Human trials planned as three-parent babies deemed 'safe' to be born

Scientists have called for experimentation on human embryos after they concluded that the techniques used to create three-parent babies are safe

17:15 04 June 2014

Scientists are now looking to get the go signal from the government after experts ruled that techniques used to create three-parent babies were safe. 

 

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which claimed that it worked and was backed up with an enormous amount of data, said that the techniques are potentially useful. However, it added that it needs further experimentation on human embryos. 

 

The procedure includes taking DNA for a “second mother” implanted into a defective egg to prevent babies from suffering debilitating conditions such as muscular dystrophy. Although the technique is currently banned in the United Kingdom, supporters are hoping that it will be given a chance to help affected couples have their own, genetically-related healthy children. 

 

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge said: "The panel's view still stands, that both techniques have the potential to be useful for all patients with disorders caused by mutated mitochondrial DNA. 

 

"There has been a lot of new data that we looked and we worked very hard to address all the issues... 

 

"First of all, there is still no evidence to suggest that either techniques might be unsafe. 

 

"There is still insufficient evidence to recommend one technique over the other... but we still do recommend that some further experiments are needed to be done before introducing either into clinical practice."