Frozen embryos, new source of controversy

1995/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Etika

Although frozen embryos and fertilization techniques are increasingly common, the debate on them remains. This time the controversy arises from the discoveries of the French research group on Development Biology. Based on trials with rats, it can be verified that grains obtained with frozen embryos undergo behavioral and reaction changes. According to the report presented by the researchers, these changes are not detected immediately, even if they are tangible in the short or medium term. Rats born with frozen embryos tend to suffer more aggression and more violent reactions.

Since the publication of the research data, although it has been disseminated that with human embryos a similar change can occur, the news has not achieved much credibility among researchers. The British group dedicated to investigating the changes that fertilization techniques can produce in human genes, for example, has called for the creation of a commission to check French studies.