‘3 parent babies’ concept a step closer after watchdog gives green signal
April 20th, 2011 - 1:40 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr 20 (ANI): A British fertility watchdog has given the green signal for a medical breakthrough that could lead to babies having three biological parents, despite its ‘life meddling’ fears.
The controversial IVF technique uses DNA from two women and one man to overcome faults which can lead to incurable, deadly genetic illnesses, reports the Daily Mail.
Any babies born would inherit two percent of their DNA from an egg donor with the rest coming from their father and his female partner.
After being asked to review ‘three- parent IVF’ by ministers, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has ruled it is ‘potentially useful’.
The method could help a small number of patients at risk of passing on lethal genetic diseases, said its expert panel.
Scientists insist three-parent IVF would not alter the looks or personality of any child born with its use.
The technique aims to prevent a range of brain, liver and heart diseases caused by faults in a mother’s eggs.
Around 200 babies a year are born with these conditions.
But critics were horrified by the HFEA’s approval and have accused doctors of meddling with the building blocks of life. (ANI)
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