The BBC is reporting that scientists in Newcastle University have created a human embyo using three separate parents.
If this is true, it could “eradicate a whole class of hereditary diseases” in women with diseases of the mitochondria.
The Newcastle team claimed to have created a single embryo with the the DNA of one man and two women, which could ensure that women with mitochondrial disease do not pass genertic defects on to their children.
Faults in the mitochondrial DNA can cause around 50 known diseases some which lead to disability and death.
About one in every 6,500 people is affected by such conditions, which include fatal liver failure, stroke-like episodes, blindness, muscular dystrophy, diabetes and deafness.
Already the news has provoked criticism from genetic ethics groups, who argue the whole thing sounds suspiciously like designing babies.
So while any baby born through this method would have genetic elements from three people, the nuclear DNA that influences appearance and other characteristics would not come from the woman providing the donor egg.
These groups may have a point.
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These people are anti-abortion and would like to see a child suffer from muscular dystrophy, diabetics, and other birth defects. These are the people who promote birth of diseases of the mitrochondria and starving childrens in Africa and other poor developing countries. If a parent has an option of eliminating mitrochondria related diseases then why they should be burdened with child who will require medical care rest of his or her life? What about societal costs of giving birth of babies with diseases of the mitrochondria? I have seen Pope going to Kenya and giving lectures against birth control. This is a crime and human suffering promoted by the organized religions.
Other good news is that in Muslim world where there are a significant in-breeding related birth defects and diseases, now they will be able to get healthy babies. I suggest that Muslim countries should under-write all research activities.