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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 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 that 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, which contains the genetic instructions for building and running the human body | Nucleus: Where the majority of our DNA is held, which contains the genetic instructions for building and running the human body |
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. | 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." | |
Delight | Delight |
Prof Doug Turnbull, from Newcastle University, told BBC News: "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 licence 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. | 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 mother 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. | "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 hi-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? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | However, the team at Newcastle are at a more advanced stage with pronuclear transfer. |