Greenpeace claims mixed embryos patent authorised.

 Greenpeace is claiming European officials authorised a patent last year on mixed embryos, containing human and animal cells, to the Australian pharmaceutical company Amrad.

In a statement issued in Germany, Greenpeace said the patent gave Amrad a monopoly on introducing cells from human embryos into the embryos of mice, sheep, pigs, cows, fish and birds, with the aim of creating so-called “fantasy” animals.

Last month, the European Patent Office said such patents would never be authorised.  Greenpeace said the patent office had violated European patent laws.  It repeated demands for patents to be outlawed on any part of the human body.