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Rules for babies 'from three people' | Rules for babies 'from three people' |
(35 minutes later) | |
The rules for creating babies from three people - which state only two would be classed as parents - have been announced by the UK government. | |
The fertility technique uses material from the mother, father and a donor woman to prevent deadly diseases. | The fertility technique uses material from the mother, father and a donor woman to prevent deadly diseases. |
MPs will soon vote on whether to make the UK the first country in the world to legalise the procedure. | MPs will soon vote on whether to make the UK the first country in the world to legalise the procedure. |
Opponents say it is unethical to make babies with DNA from three people and that it represents a "slippery slope" . | |
The UK scientists that have led the research hope to offer the procedure next year. | |
Some families have lost up to seven children to "mitochondrial diseases" that leave the body with insufficient energy to function. | |
Mitochondria are the microscopic power stations in nearly every cell of the body. | Mitochondria are the microscopic power stations in nearly every cell of the body. |
Defective mitochondria are passed only from mother to child so scientists in the UK have pioneered therapies which use functioning mitochondria from a donor woman. | Defective mitochondria are passed only from mother to child so scientists in the UK have pioneered therapies which use functioning mitochondria from a donor woman. |
However, mitochondria have a tiny amount of their own DNA so any resulting child would have genetic information from three people. | However, mitochondria have a tiny amount of their own DNA so any resulting child would have genetic information from three people. |
The structure of a cell | The structure of a cell |
Nucleus: Where the majority of our DNA is held - this determines how we look and our personality | Nucleus: Where the majority of our DNA is held - this determines how we look and our personality |
Mitochondria: Often described as the cells' power stations, these convert energy into a form cells can use | Mitochondria: Often described as the cells' power stations, these convert energy into a form cells can use |
Cytoplasm: The jelly like substance that contains the nucleus and mitochondria | Cytoplasm: The jelly like substance that contains the nucleus and mitochondria |
The regulations put before Parliament state: | The regulations put before Parliament state: |
In practice it means that only the most severely affected women - perhaps 10 cases per year - would go ahead. | In practice it means that only the most severely affected women - perhaps 10 cases per year - would go ahead. |
And doctors in Newcastle, where the technique has been pioneered, would initially be the centre offering it. | And doctors in Newcastle, where the technique has been pioneered, would initially be the centre offering it. |
The regulations will remain in draft form until they are voted on by Parliament and are signed off by ministers. | The regulations will remain in draft form until they are voted on by Parliament and are signed off by ministers. |
This is expected to take place before the general election in May 2015. | This is expected to take place before the general election in May 2015. |
Public health minister Jane Ellison said: "The Government considers that the time is now right to give Parliament the opportunity to consider and vote on these regulations." | |
A scientific review by the fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, said doctors would be ready to start creating babies from three people in around two years. | A scientific review by the fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, said doctors would be ready to start creating babies from three people in around two years. |
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said there was no evidence that it would be unsafe, but called for final checks. | The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said there was no evidence that it would be unsafe, but called for final checks. |
Deadly | |
Baby Jessica was born with Leigh's disease, a type of mitochondrial disease, and she has to be fed through a tube. | |
One in every 6,500 babies has severe mitochondrial disease. | |
"They did warn us she may not reach her toddler years," her mum Victoria Holliday said. | |
She, and partner Keith Newell, want more children, but are unwilling to risk another child suffering in the same way as Jessica. | |
"It's not fair that if there's a scientific technique out there that could stop this happening in the future that we're not using it," Victoria said. | |
Dr David King, from the the campaign group Human Genetics Alert, said: "This is high-tech medicine at its worst and most unnecessary. | |
"Medical researchers are crossing the crucial ethical line that will open the door to designer babies based on scientific misinformation and ignoring majority public opposition. | |
"There are already safe and reliable ways to avoid these conditions, so why put the child's health at risk purely so that mothers can be genetically related to them?" |