Three Genetic Parents

3 biological parents, 1 child, and an international controversy

Source Vox.com

When scientists discover a new way to prevent disease or overcome infertility, they usually get applauded. But throw genetic engineering into the mix and it gets dicey fast. Genetic engineering in reproductive medicine is particularly scary because we’re talking about changing the genes of future generations — so any new technique is sure to incite controversy, especially in the United States.

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Three Genetic Parents

Discussion on new genetics-linked tech welcome

Source The Straits Times

The Bioethics Advisory Committee has to consider the dilemmas associated with a new technology which allows a child to be born without serious genetic defects, but with three genetic parents.

Mitochondrial genome replacement technology involves combining the genetic material (DNA) of a couple – who would otherwise be unlikely to have healthy children of their own – with that of a female egg donor.

That would mean the child would have the genetic make-up of three people, although the donor’s contribution would account for less than 1 per cent of the child’s DNA.

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