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US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at this week began a discussion on a controversial procedure allowing create babies from the DNA of three people.
Proponents of the procedure argue that this can prevent inheritance of many diseases; opponents express doubt due to the possibility of ethical issues, stating that this procedure can lead to the so-called “designer babies.”
Since the proposed procedure has been tested on animals, it is acceptable to assume that the offspring created from the DNA of three a person – two parents and a female donor – can be born healthy. Such offspring do not inherit incurable diseases such as blindness or defects in other organs. But everyone agrees that it must be many years before the results of the procedure can be fully appreciated – that’s why researchers continue to monitor for the long-term health of the offspring of experimental animals.
Hearing at the FDA involves medical experts and genetic engineering, as well as ethical experts. Critics point out that this procedure leads to the unknown territory with vague prospects as it can open a door for creating children with desired attributes. Doubtful also the authority of the FDA and its competence to regulate such procedure, since only the agencies fall under the jurisdiction drugs and medical equipment.
The speakers included Shoukhrat Mitalipov from the University. Oregon Health and Science, which managed to get five healthy monkeys according to the technique he invented. In its development is made replacement of defective mitochondrial DNA in the eggs of the expectant mother to the same DNA from a healthy donor. Mitochondrial DNA transmitted only through the mother, and mutations in the mitochondria can lead to congenital diseases.
FDA expert group proposes more trials on animals before allowing experiments with humans. Wherein animal test results in human trials proposed not to consider.
DNA Health
