Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Comment and Health

Changes to surrogacy laws must consider future reproductive technology

A reform of surrogacy law in the UK could have major ramifications as reproductive technology advances. We need to look at the relationship between procreation and parenthood, says Teresa Baron

By Teresa Baron

8 March 2023

Âé¶¹´«Ã½. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Simone Rotella

MOST people assume that if you create a child, it is your child. But the links between creation, commission and child-rearing are growing more tenuous as reproductive technology advances and laws are reformed in response. In the coming decades, we might see the first children conceived using synthetic eggs and and “born” through (artificial womb technology). How we respond to these advances will depend on what we do, between now and then, with the relationship between procreation and parenthood.

Since 2017, law reform bodies in England, Scotland and Wales have been refining proposals for a reform of…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop