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Scientists will be able to carry out genetic experiments on human embryos for the first time under controversial Government plans.
Ministers have given the green light to research that some doctors warn raises the disturbing prospect of "genetically modified babies".
Proposed legislation says researchers would be allowed to alter the genetic blueprint of an embryo up to two weeks old. Ethical campaigners fear this could herald an era of eugenics in which couples would engineer their children to be as perfect as possible.
Critics predicted the public would be "horrified" by any steps towards creating GM babies.
The Government has said it will not allow genetic modification of embryos for reproductive purposes.
However, it wants to let scientists alter the genetic structure of the cells of live embryos for research projects. In practice this would mean scientists could take an embryo while it is only a few days old and manipulate its genes to learn more about inherited disorders such as motor neurone disease.
After 14 days the embryo would have to be destroyed so it could never grow into...