The 14 Day Rule and Human Embryo Research

This assessment of Britain's influential 14 day rule governing embryo research explores how and why it became the de facto global standard for research into human fertilization and embryology, arguing that its influence and stability offers valuable lessons for successful biological translation.

Sarah Franklin FBA, FAcSS, FRSB holds the Chair of Sociology at the University of Cambridge where she is also a Fellow of Christ's College. She is the founding Director of the Reproductive Sociology Research Group (ReproSoc) and co-Chair of Cambridge Reproduction. She is the author of Embodied Progress: a cultural account of assisted conception (1997, 2022) as well as numerous other publications on the social and cultural implications of new reproductive and genetic technologies. Emily Jackson is a Professor of Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she teaches Medical Law. She was a Member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority from 2003-2012, and its Deputy Chair from 2008-2012. She is a Fellow of the British Academy and was a Judicial Appointments Commissioner from 2014-2017.

1. What is the 14 Day Rule and Why Does it Matter? 2. Science as a Social Contract 3. The Scientific Origins of the 14 Day Rule 4. The Legislative Origins of the 14 Day Rule 5. The 14 day rule since 1990 6. The future of the 14 day rule 7. Conclusion: Summary of Principles and Proposals