Britain Says Three-Parent IVF Could Be Possible by 2015
A controversial new treatment allowing "three-parent" babies has been back by the British government.
In-vitro fertilization involving the DNA of three parents could be a possibility by 2015, according to new reports. The technique, which would allow parents with severe mitochondrial diseases to bear children with their own resemblance, was backed by the British government on Friday.
"It's only right that we look to introduce this life-saving treatment as soon as we can," Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said in a statement to the Associated Free Press.
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The technique is meant to tackle a slew of side-affects related to damaged mitochondria, including muscle dystrophy. Damaged mitochondria cells can only be passed by the mother. The new treatment would involve using both the mother and father's DNA, but replacing damaged mitochondria cells using healthy cells provided by a donor.
The "mitochondria replacement" therapy would avoid the mother passing on damaged genes to her offspring without affecting the outwards appearance of the child.
But while many were supportive of new treatment efforts, others feared the possible consequences of such a treatment. A number of Christian communities are already opposed to IVF and believe including a third parent's DNA would make the procedure even more controversial.
In the past, doctors and patients have abused IVF. Nadya Suleman cast a particular negative light on IVF after insisting that a doctor implant multiple embryos resulting in her, becoming the first woman to give birth to octuplets. With no second parent, Suleman eventually suffered bankruptcy and was allegedly forced into the adult entertainment industry.
"This is the stuff of nightmares. Human beings are now being modified by human beings in their search for perfection. How vain, how soulless , how tragic," a blogger wrote on the Telegraph site.
Prof Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, compared the process to changing a faulty battery in a car, The Telegraph said in a report.
"Mitochondrial disease can have a devastating impact on people who inherit it," she said. "It's only right that we look to introduce this life-saving treatment as soon as we can."
