WIKIMEDIA, VOICEBOKSThe United Kingdom has moved a step closer to becoming the first country to approve a new type of in vitro fertilization that creates babies with DNA from three parents. By transferring the nuclear DNA from the sperm and egg of prospective parents into an enucleated egg donated by a person with healthy mitochondria, the procedures could prevent mothers from passing mitochondrial diseases onto their children.
After a public consultation revealed broad support for the technique, the UK’s Department of Health last week (June 27) announced that draft regulation for fertility clinics wishing to perform the procedure will be ready by this fall. Parliament will then vote on the guidelines at some point next year.
Opponents of the plans are concerned that the move sets the UK on a slippery slope toward designer babies and other forms of genetic modification of humans. But while acknowledging the existence of “sensitive issues,” Dame Sally Davis, England’s chief medical officer, said she was “personally very comfortable” about pushing on with procedures that prevent disease by replacing mitochondria. “It’s only right that we look to introduce this life-saving treatment as soon as we can,” said ...
