Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques and Mexico’s Rule of Law: On the Legality of the First Maternal Spindle Transfer Case

News about the first baby born after a mitochondrial replacement technique (MRT; specifically maternal spindle transfer) broke on September 27, 2016 and, in a matter of hours, went global. Of special interest was the fact that the mitochondrial replacement procedure happened in Mexico. One of the scientists behind this world first was quoted as having said that he and his team went to Mexico to carry out the procedure because, in Mexico, there are no rules. In this paper, we explore Mexico's rule of law in relation to mitochondrial replacement techniques and show that, in fact, certain instances of MRTs are prohibited at the federal level and others are prohibited at the state level. According to our interpretation of the law, the scientists behind this first successful MRT procedure broke federal regulations regarding assisted fertilization research

Chimeras intended for human gamete production: an ethical alternative?

Human eggs for basic, fertility and stem-cell research are in short supply. Many experiments that require their use cannot be carried out at present, and, therefore, the benefits that could emerge from these are either delayed or never materialise. This state of affairs is problematic for scientists and patients worldwide, and it is a matter that needs our attention. Recent advances in chimera research have opened the possibility of creating human/non-human animal chimeras intended for human gamete production (chimeras-IHGP). In this paper, I examine four arguments against the creation of such chimeras and prove that all of them are found wanting. I conclude by showing that there is a strong moral reason for scientists to pursue this research avenue

Mexico and mitochondrial replacement techniques: what a mess

Abstract Background The first live birth following the use of a new reproductive technique, maternal spindle transfer (MST), which is a mitochondrial replacement technique (MRT), was accomplished by dividing the execution of the MST procedure between two countries, the USA and Mexico. This was done in order to avoid US legal restrictions on this technique. Sources of data Academic articles, news articles, documents obtained through freedom of information requests, laws, regulations and national reports. Areas of agreement MRTs are new reproductive techniques that present novel ethical and legal challenges, since genetic material from three people is employed to create a child. Areas of controversy Could the first MST procedure that culminated in a live birth negatively impact reproductive medicine in Mexico? Growing points The USA and Mexico need specific and clear legislation on MRTs, in order for such techniques not to be governed by prior existing legislation on assisted reproduction that is inadequate for dealing with the new challenges that these techniques present. Areas timely for developing research There is a pressing need for work to be done on the international governance of new reproductive techniques

Empirical likelihood based testing for regression

Consider a random vector $(X,Y)$ and let $m(x)=E(Y|X=x)$. We are interested in testing $H_0:m\in {\cal M}_{\Theta,{\cal G}}=\{\gamma(\cdot,\theta,g):\theta \in \Theta,g\in {\cal G}\}$ for some known function $\gamma$, some compact set $\Theta \subset$IR$^p$ and some function set ${\cal G}$ of real valued functions. Specific examples of this general hypothesis include testing for a parametric regression model, a generalized linear model, a partial linear model, a single index model, but also the selection of explanatory variables can be considered as a special case of this hypothesis. To test this null hypothesis, we make use of the so-called marked empirical process introduced by \citeD and studied by \citeSt for the particular case of parametric regression, in combination with the modern technique of empirical likelihood theory in order to obtain a powerful testing procedure. The asymptotic validity of the proposed test is established, and its finite sample performance is compared with other existing tests by means of a simulation study.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-EJS152 the Electronic Journal of Statistics (http://www.i-journals.org/ejs/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Videojuego con Realidad Virtual

El objetivo del proyecto es el desarrollo de un videojuego deportivo que utilice realidad mixta. El videojuego se podrá utilizar con dispositivos de tipo cardboard, y utilizará realidad aumentada para la interacción del jugador con el videojuego. En el desarrollo se utilizará el motor Unity para conseguir una aplicación multiplataforma, y la librería Vuforia para implementar realidad mixta

Algunas reflexiones sobre las materias primas líticas y la variabilidad técnica y tipológica, al terminio del Paleolítico superior de la región cantábrica

Se intenta un acercamiento a las distintas posibilidades de aprovechamiento a las distintas posibilidades de aprovechamiento de materias primas en la región cantábrica, y a su incidencia tanto en la composición técnica y tipológica de conjuntos sincrónicos, como en la distinta plasmación de unas mismas tendencias de cambio industrial durante la segunda mitad del Tardiglacial.On essaiera d 'approcher les différentes posibilités d'utiliser les matières premières dans la región cantabrique, et d'analyser leurs incidences tant dans la composition technique et typologique des ensembles synchroniques, que dans les differéntes formes adoptées par les memes tendences de changement industrial pendant le Tardiglaciaire avancé

Early Representation of Bison in the Cantabrian Region

Los bisontes grabados en conjuntos rupestres arcaicos dela región cantábrica (Venta dela Perra, Hornos de la Peña, Chufín y Murciélagos) muestran caracteres recurrentes, expresivos del alto grado de convencionalismo de este arte. El análisis de estas figuras, algunas hasta ahora inéditas, permite una más estrecha integración de los conjuntos indicados y los del segundo horizonte gráfico del Nalón en una misma tradición artística, y facilita algunas reflexiones sobre su cronología, la coexistencia de un arte interior y exterior, o la presencia de los bisontes en los dispositivos iconográficos paleolíticos de la región, variable en el tiempo y en el espacio.The engravings representing bison of archaic wall-art assemblages of Cantabrian Spain (Venta de la Perra, Hornos de la Peña, Chufín and Los Murciélagos) share some traits that show the high degree of conventionalism of this art. An analysis of these representations, some of them unpublished so far, permits a closer integration of them with the second graphic horizon proposed for the Nalón valley wall art, as parts of the same tradition. That permits some reflections on the chronology of such tradition, the coexistence of art inside and outside caves, or the variable role of bison in the Palaeolithic iconographic assemblages of the Cantabrian region

Escuela, familia y comunidad: una propuesta para su integración

En el presente trabajo se realiza una revisión de las concepciones teóricas de la educación y la escuela que reconocen y justifican la integración de las familias y la comunidad en el ámbito escolar. Asimismo se profundiza en el estudio de la familia y sus características en la sociedad actual, para comprender la naturaleza de las relaciones con la escuela. A partir de todo ello se fundamenta una perspectiva de trabajo en el ámbito escolar que integra la escuela, las familias y la comunidad, para plantear finalmente unas consideraciones generales para la puesta en marcha de acciones o iniciativas conducentes a la superación de las barreras existentes entre la escuela y la familia.Grado en Educación Socia