Ruling to stopstem cellpatents

RESEARCHERS have been told they cannot patent and make money from lifesaving therapies using stem cells that resulted in the destruction of human embryos.

The European Court of Justice also ruled that the start of human life was when the egg was fertilised, which may have implications for abortion legislation and fertility treatments.

The court’s decision on stem cells could have far reaching consequences for an area of cutting-edge research the government was interested in developing and which they supported in the court hearing.