This is almost as sick as abortion ! Birth of the genetically modified HUMAN

[Fay Dickson-- AKA doofs]

Birth of the genetically modified HUMAN: Babies born with tweaked DNA could be in the UK next year

• Parliament is poised to vote on whether a new form of IVF treatment, which uses DNA from three parents, will become legally available to couples
• The complex technique would replace mitochondrial DNA to avoid destructive cell mutations
• Mitochondrial DNA can contain mutations that can lead to epilepsy, diabetes, blindness and other medical problems

By SARAH GRIFFITHS

PUBLISHED: 12:29 EST, 27 January 2014 | UPDATED: 12:31 EST, 27 January

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Babies with genetically modified DNA could be born in the UK as soon as next year (stock image)

You’ve heard of GM crops, but GM babies could be born in the UK as soon as next spring.

Parliament is poised to vote on whether a new form of IVF treatment, which uses DNA from three parents, will become legally available to couples, making the prospect of genetically-modified humans imminent.

The procedure is designed to get rid of genetic mutations that can lead to blindness, epilepsy and other medical problems.

If politicians embrace the procedure, the law would be the first to allow pre-birth human DNA modification.

The complex technique will replace mitochondrial DNA to avoid destructive cell mutations if the law is passed by Parliament.

The issue is is expected to be debated before July this year.

Mitochondria convert energy from food into essential ingredients that human cells need in order to function.

Critically, they also carry their own DNA as well as the nuclear DNA in humans’ chromosomes which store most of our genetic information, Forbesreported.

Only mothers pass on mitochondrial DNA to their children, which sometimes contains mutations that can lead to epilepsy, diabetes, blindness and other medical problems.

It is estimated that one in 5,000 to 10,000 women carry mitochondrial DNA with mutations, Nature reported and some even lead to fatal diseases.

 

THE CONTROVERSIAL PROCEDURE

The procedure is a new form of IVF treatment, which uses DNA from three parents.

If legalised, it would replace mitochondrial DNA to avoid destructive cell mutations.

Scientists would combine mitochondrial DNA from a donor with the nucleus from a potential mother’s egg so that the baby would not suffer from disorders caused by mutations.

This procedure has yet to be tried in humans but researchers have managed to successfully perform the procedure in rhesus monkeys.

Parliament is expected to vote on whether the procedure can be carried out before July, which means the first GM babies could potentially be born in the UK next year.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2546861/Birth-geneti...