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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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 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" . | 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. | 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. | 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. They also contain 0.1% of the total number of genes in a person. | |
| 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." | 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." |
| Delight | |
| Prof Doug Turnbull, from Newcastle University, told BBC News online: "I'm delighted that it's being moved forward to the next stage, it's a long process, but it's great news. | |
| "We want to apply for a license next year and hope to do it [the procedure] in 2015." | |
| A scientific review by the fertility The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said there was no evidence that it would be unsafe, but called for final checks. | |
| Deadly | Deadly |
| Baby Jessica was born with Leigh's disease, a type of mitochondrial disease, and she has to be fed through a tube. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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?" | "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?" |
| How is it done? | |
| Two separate techniques are being devised, but they both share the same common principle - take the DNA from the parents and combine it with healthy mitochondria from a female donor. | |
| The pronuclear transfer method involves fertilising two eggs and moving the combined parents' DNA into the fertilised donor egg. | |
| Spindle transfer is the other way round. The mother's DNA is moved into the donor egg, which is then fertilised. | |
| It is unclear whether one method is safer or more effective than the other. | |
| However, the team at Newcastle are at a more advanced stage with pronuclear transfer. |