New IVF method criticism – financial times

Health. Right now, there is a kind of race to the bottom to create children with dna from three parents. It considers researchers who are afraid of a new genmetod is used far too lightly with big risks for the child as a result.

the united kingdom has recently approved a new IVF method. If the mother carries the gene for the so-called mitochondrial disease can of the mother nucleus, in some cases, be picked out and placed in a donated egg. In this way the child receives the genetic material found in mitochondria, which are located outside the nucleus of the cell, from the donor.

This dna represents only 0.1% of the total genome, but can in some cases cause very severe diseases.

But the method is controversial and the approval in the Uk came only after the authorities had taken a number of legal and clinical precautions.

Infertility

In september, it became known that a child with this method, which thus has dna from three parents, had been born in Mexico five months earlier. The mother of the american boy carrying a genetic disease, but the conception took place in Mexico where there is no ban on the method.

News were up big with pictures of both the child and the responsible physician.

at the same time, now reports that the method started to be used in Ukraine, a country with weak legislation in this area. But where it is used not as a way to avoid serious diseases but to treat infertility, although with unclear effect.

Race

American and british scientists are concerned now that the method is used far too lightly in countries with weak regulations.

Marcy Darnovsky, at the US Centre for Genetics and Society, told BBC News that those who offer the technology in these countries are skating on very thin ice. And it seems to run some sort of race – to the bottom.

– They ignore the ongoing policy debates and carry out dangerous experiments on mothers and children. And it seems as if they actively seek as much media attention as possible on the way down, ” she says.

In Sweden is mitokondriebyte not allowed. The year 2013 found the State’s medical ethics council (Smer) to the method itself may be acceptable, provided that we get better knowledge about the medical risks and effects.

the FACTS

Dna from three parents

in Addition to the nucleus of the cell also contains mitochondria dna. These are located outside the nucleus of the cell and its dna constitutes approximately 0.1% of the total genome.

Sperm contains no mitochondria why the mitochondria and its dna is only inherited on the maternal line.

There are a number of diseases resulting from changes in this genetic material, diseases, which in some cases can cause a great deal of suffering.

The new method is a form of gene therapy where the damaged dna from the mitochondria are replaced by the mother’s nucleus is inserted into a donated embryo that carries on healthy mitochondria.

Source: the national medical-ethical advice, and more.

TT

17 October 201611:02