British Parliament Approves ‘Three-Parent Babies’, ‘Designer Babies’

Photo Credit: Telegraph By Steven Ertelt. Members of the British parliament today voted to make Britain the first country in the world to allow scientists to create three-parent genetically-engineered embryos, sometimes called “designer babies.”

In the process, the babies, born from genetically modified embryos, would have DNA from a mother, a father and from a female donor. The British parliament voted 382 to 128 in favor of the technique and Prime Minister David Cameron allowed a free vote on the issue and voted for it.

Conservative lawmaker Fiona Bruce said the measure would lead to “designer babies.”

“Where will it lead? The answer has to be that we stop here. The answer has to be that we say this is a red line in our country, as in every other country in the world, that we will not cross,” she said during the debate.

Dr. Peter Saunders, a pro-life physician from Britain and a leading campaigner against three-parent embryos, says members of Parliament were worried Britain would appear scientifically backwards if it did not approve the plan. (Read more about the three-parent embryos HERE)

_________________________________________________________

Why the UK Voted to Allow ‘Three-Parent Babies’

By Arthur Bright. Britain’s House of Commons voted overwhelmingly today to legalize the creation of so-called “three-parent babies.” Though advocates of the move say it will help prevent a debilitating and often lethal condition, many warn that the procedure, if well-intentioned, opens the door to ethical and safety questions that have yet to be sufficiently grappled with . . .

The newly approved line of research is meant to address genetic defects found in the mitochondria of eggs and embryonic cells.

Mitochondria are structures, found within all human cells, that convert food into energy. They have their own genetic material, distinct from the DNA found in cellular nuclei, that is inherited solely from the biological mother.

Defects in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can cause a range of diseases that are particularly devastating as they strike early in childhood, are largely untreatable, and are inherited: The BBC highlighted one instance in 2012 where a mother lost seven children to mtDNA-related conditions, most in infancy . . .

Although the theory is appealing, it has yet to be shown effective in practice, particularly for humans. The Center for Genetics and Society, a Berkeley, Calif.-based nonprofit focused on medical ethics and governance, writes that the safety of mitrochondrial replacement techniques has yet to be shown – and has much higher stakes, because the treatment is irreversible. The techniques “could cause immediate problems for any child born from these techniques, but could also cause problems later in life. Any problems that arise would additionally be passed on to future generations.” (Read more from this story HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.