Bill allows human egg, animal sperm research

Legislation that would allow human eggs and animal sperm to be combined has been approved by the South Australian Parliament.

The Upper House has passed the bill in a conscience vote, 12-9.

The legislation will make it an offence for a person to intentionally implant a human embryo clone.

But Liberal MP Rob Lucas says the bill also allows for reproductive research of a human egg and an animal's sperm for up to two days.

"Even in the legislation itself when they talk about combining animal sperm and human eggs, as I said, I think most people would find abhorrent," he said.

"They actually, in the definition of this hybrid embryo, actually say it's a thing which could be defined by regulation, I mean that's how bizarre this whole process is going to be."

The legislation will bring South Australia into line with the federal laws.

Family First MP Robert Brokenshire is critical of the legislation.

He says there is no longer any need for the research and there was no public debate on the issue.

"The fact is that...