How Ethical are “Three-Parent Babies”? Mitochondria are our
“power-supply”. Although they only contain 27 genes, they
regulate many aspects of energy production, storage and
processing. If a faulty mitochondrial gene is inherited, it can
cause severe disabilities such as Leigh’s disease. Prof. Doug
Turnbull’s Team in Newcastle have developed a technique in which
damaged maternal mitochondrial DNA can be replaced by that from
a donor with healthy mitochondria. The Human Fertilization and
Embryology Authority (HFEA) is to announce its decision soon on
approval for human use. As with all reproductive advances there
has been an outcry from ethical opponents who stigmatis it as
enabling “3 parent babies”. Prof Turnbull believes that the
technique should be legalised “to offer women who carry
mitochondrial DNA mutations the chance of having normal
children.” The coined label of “3-parent babies” is misleading.
Prof Turnbull adds that “The techniques proposed will only
change the mitochondrial DNA” which makes up le