19 MAY 1990, Page 25

Sir: Profesgbr Winston and Mr James Le Fanu (Letters, 28

April and 5 May) are both content to make use of the notion of prevention in discussing the merits or otherwise of embryo research. But it is prevention in the same sense that, for example, motor-cycle accidents could be prevented by eliminating motor-cycles, or indeed motor-cyclists. Embryo research does not lead to the avoidance of a medical condition, but of the person who would be born with that condition.

God may not be the author of life (though I hold this to be true), but I fear for any mere human hand being given control of the blue pen.

P. H. S. Cox

57 Swallowfield Road, Charlton, London SE7