Commentary on Sections Part 1: Amendments of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 Genetic modification of cells
65.Previously paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act prohibited alteration of the genetic structure of the cell of an embryo, except in such circumstances as may be specified in regulations. No such regulations were in fact made. This prohibition is not included in the re-enacted paragraph 3. Therefore research involving the genetic modification of embryos may now be authorised under a research licence.