World’s first three-parent baby a step closer after UK approval

Date: June 29 2013

Julia Medew

Britain will become the first country to create babies with the DNA of three people.

Parents at high risk of having children with severe disabilities such as muscular dystrophy will be offered the controversial new IVF treatment after it was given the green light by UK ministers on Friday.

It means the world’s first ”three-parent baby” could be born in Britain by 2015, if detailed proposals for regulation pass public consultation and are approved by Parliament next year.

The technique, which Australian scientists have also been working on, involves replacing a fraction of the mother’s damaged DNA with that of a healthy donor.

The process avoids the risk of the mother passing on to her children inherited defects, which can lead to a host of rare and debilitating conditions affecting the heart, muscles and brain.

The technique is controversial because it involves ”germ line” modification of the embryo’s DNA, meaning the third party’s genetic material would not only be passed on to the child, but also to future generations down the female line.

The technique is aimed at tackling a collection of rare hereditary conditions which are caused by mutated mitochondria – structures which supply power to our cells.

Professor Doug Turnbull, who pioneered the technique at Newcastle University, said: ”I am delighted that the government is moving forward with publishing draft regulations this year and a final version for debate in Parliament next year. This is excellent news for families with mitochondrial disease.”

TELEGRAPH,

29/06/2013