Babies With Three Genetic Parents Possible in 2 Years
- 10 years ago
Scientists in the United Kingdom have figured out how to take the genetics from three different people to create one child, and they say that the procedure could be ready for human testing in two years. One advantage of using eggs from two women with one man’s sperm is that the genetic twist could prevent mitochondrial disease passed down from the mother‘s genes.
Scientists in the United Kingdom have figured out how to take the eggs and sperm from three different people to create one child using two different procedures which they say could be ready for human testing in two years.
One advantage of using eggs from two women with one man’s sperm is that the genetic twist could prevent mitochondrial disease passed down from the mother‘s genes.
Mitochondrial disease can be fatal and affects one out of every 65 hundred children, causing symptoms like weak muscles, blindness and heart failure.
Addressing the safety of the procedures for human subjects, Professor Andy Greenfield who headed the scientific panel called the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is quoted as saying: “Until a healthy baby is born we cannot say 100% that these techniques are safe, if you think back to when In Vitro Fertilization was a new technology all of these questions were asked before IVF.”
There are a series of final tests to make sure that the procedures are safe, and won’t cause mutations of mitochondria in subsequent generations.
The UK government is supportive of the research, which will allow women with mitochondrial disease to still have children without the risk of passing on the genetic disorder, but officials are still considering changing the regulations for fertilization.
Scientists in the United Kingdom have figured out how to take the eggs and sperm from three different people to create one child using two different procedures which they say could be ready for human testing in two years.
One advantage of using eggs from two women with one man’s sperm is that the genetic twist could prevent mitochondrial disease passed down from the mother‘s genes.
Mitochondrial disease can be fatal and affects one out of every 65 hundred children, causing symptoms like weak muscles, blindness and heart failure.
Addressing the safety of the procedures for human subjects, Professor Andy Greenfield who headed the scientific panel called the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is quoted as saying: “Until a healthy baby is born we cannot say 100% that these techniques are safe, if you think back to when In Vitro Fertilization was a new technology all of these questions were asked before IVF.”
There are a series of final tests to make sure that the procedures are safe, and won’t cause mutations of mitochondria in subsequent generations.
The UK government is supportive of the research, which will allow women with mitochondrial disease to still have children without the risk of passing on the genetic disorder, but officials are still considering changing the regulations for fertilization.