SPUC has described as "macabre and unethical" a so-called 'three-parent' embryo technique which is due to receive £5.8 million of funding.

SPUC was responding to the announcement by the Wellcome Trust that embryo research into mitochondrial disease will start at its new centre at Newcastle University.

At the same time the government has launched a public consultation on whether to pass legislation to allow the 'three-parent' embryo technique to be used for medical treatment. [SPUC, 19 January]

Other stories:

• Act now to get government to block advertising by commercial abortion centres
• US study used to claim that abortion is 14 times safer than giving birth
• Claim of rise in illegal abortions globally is dubious, says SPUC
• Midwives defend right to conscientious objection in Scottish court
• Baby-saving pro-life counsellors are under threat, so let's focus on defending them from all quarters [John Smeaton, 27 January]
• Skin cells turned directly into brain cells, claim US scientists [BBC, 31 January]
• Four patients die thirsty or starving every day in UK hospitals, suggest new stats [Mail, 22 January]