A human egg that has been parthenogenetically activated but not fertilised can be patented for commercial and industrial use, the court of justice of the European Union ruled on Thursday. The ruling came after the judges established that in order to be classified as a 'human embryo', a non-fertilised human egg must necessarily have the inherent capacity of developing into a human being. Consequently, the mere fact that a parthenogenetically-activated human egg commences a process of development is not sufficient for it to be regarded as a 'human embryo', the court ruled. Therefore, uses of such an organism for industrial or commercial purposes can be patented, the judges said.
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