SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the mothers-day-just-got-more-expensive dept.
The BBC reports that three-person IVF will soon be legal in the United Kingdom. The procedure involves replacing mitochondrial DNA in an embryo from that of a second woman in order to eliminate deadly mitochondrial genetic disorders. Alana Saarinen was successfully conceived in the U.S. using the procedure back in 2000, but the FDA banned ooplasm transfer in 2001.
The UK has now become the first country to approve laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. The modified version of IVF has passed its final legislative obstacle after being approved by the House of Lords. The fertility regulator will now decide how to license the procedure to prevent babies inheriting deadly genetic diseases. The first baby could be born as early as 2016. A large majority of MPs in the House of Commons approved "three-person babies" earlier this month. The House of Lords tonight rejected an attempt to block the plan by a majority of 232. Estimates suggest 150 couples would be suitable to have babies through the technique each year.
Additional coverage at Wired UK and The Guardian.
Related: UK Parliament Gives Three-"Source" IVF the Go-Ahead.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by MrGuy on Thursday February 26 2015, @10:47PM
Sigh. Get a new hobbyhorse. "ZOMG Gattica!" has been thrown around since 1997.
Not every advance in reproductive technology is a step towards "Genetic predisposition is an absolute determinant of destiny, and people will be judged accordingly and exclusively based on their genes."
Indeed, the body of science around behavioral and environmental factors overriding genetic destiny continues to grow.