Embryo Created From DNA Of 2 Women, 1 Man

Procedure Aims To Produce Embryos For Couples Worried About Passing On Genetic Diseases

(AP)  British scientists say they have created human embryos containing DNA from two women and a man in a procedure that researchers hope might be used one day to produce embryos free of inherited diseases.

Though the preliminary research has raised concerns about the possibility of genetically modified babies, the scientists say that the embryos are still only primarily the product of one man and one woman.

"We are not trying to alter genes, we're just trying to swap a small proportion of the bad ones for some good ones," said Patrick Chinnery, a professor of neurogenetics at Newcastle University involved in the research.

The research was presented at a scientific conference recently, but has not been published in a scientific journal.

The process aims to create healthy embryos for couples to avoid passing on genes carrying diseases.

The genes being replaced are the mitochondria, a cell's energy source, which are contained outside the nucleus in a normal female egg. Mistakes in the mitochondria's genetic code can result in serious diseases like muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, strokes and mental retardation.

In their research, Chinnery and colleagues used normal embryos created from one man and one woman that had defective mitochondria in the woman's egg. They then transplanted that embryo into an emptied egg donated from a second woman who had healthy mitochondria.

The research is being funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, a British charity.

Only trace amounts of a person's genes come from the mitochondria, and experts said it would be incorrect to say that the embryos have three parents.

"Most of the genes that make you who you are are inside the nucleus," Chinnery said. "We're not going anywhere near that."

So far, 10 such embryos have been created, though they have not been allowed to develop for more than five days. Chinnery hoped that after further experiments in the next few years the process might be available to parents undergoing in-vitro fertilization.

"If successful, this research could give families who might otherwise have a bleak future a chance to avoid some very grave diseases," said Francoise Shenfield, a fertility expert with the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Shenfield was not connected to the Newcastle University research.

Similar experiments have been conducted in animals in Japan, and has already led to the birth of healthy mice that had their mitochondria genes corrected.

Shenfield said that further tests to assess the safety and efficacy of the process were necessary before it could be offered as a potential treatment.

A bill to allow the procedure to be regulated as a therapy for couples - once it is proven to work - is expected to be discussed in Britain's House of Commons in March.

[random_radar]

Everyone''s DNA is the combination of thousands of their ancestors--including yours. But it has only been combined two at a time until now.

Now they can combine it three or more at a time. Does that make it bizarre? Didn''t I just point out that your own DNA is a combination of thousands of people''s DNA already?

Many controversies about genetics are merely thoughtless stupidity grounded in ignorant fearfulness. Medical ethicists whip up public sentiments to establish themselves as gods to judge science.

Try to construct a logical argument about genetic technology that takes account of the fact that genes are recombined naturally to produce better and worse offspring every generation.

[fstop100]

2 parts woman, 1 part man, we will have to have Valentine''s day twice a year.

[honestabe8]

veteran: from a "simpson''s" episode where homer becomes a missionary because he made a fake pledge to pbs....

first native: now that we''ve found god, how often do we have to go to church

second native: every week...for the rest of our lives

first native: no, really.

[honestabe8]

inventagod: your dog is wise. dog is god to a dyslexic

[byeneocons]

One word: Frankenstein

[antoniof123]

Though the preliminary research has raised concerns about the possibility of genetically modified babies

Darwin the strongest will survie. Let them make better humans that way they can get rid of us by replacement.

[bedwetter777]

Posted by incog-nito at 12:24 AM : Feb 07, 2008
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Yes, the waters are uncharted. Nobody would claim otherwise. Caution is warrented, irrational fear is not. The universe is our playground and we should explore all the possibilities that it offers slowly, cautiously, wisely. We constantly redefine what it means to be human (only socially thus far). Blacks are no longer regarded by the law to be only 3/5ths human. Women can vote and own property. Children are no longer seen by the law as property. Redefinition is not bad as long as it results in just outcomes.

[incog-nito]

bedwetter777: Of course this technology can be very beneficial. I have always wanted an extra arm to get things done faster. And who couldn''t benefit from an extra eye behind the head? No more rearview mirrors. But seriously, we truly are in uncharted territories with genetic engineering, which can redefine what it means to human, or even if being "human" even matters. On a related subject, scientists are reportedly getting very close to being able to create artificial life.

[bedwetter777]

-no changing your mind then.
Posted by singinrick at 06:03 PM : Feb 06, 2008
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1 John 4:8 (New International Version)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

So, anyone who loves, knows God and is saved. A self-proclaimed atheist who loves others, knows God and is saved. Believing that there is an invisible being out there called God is irrelavant and will not save you especially if you hate those who say that they do not believe that there is an invisible being out there. Only loving others saves. If you love others, you will treat them as you would like to be treated. You will know them by their fruits, not by whether or not they say that they believe that there is an invisible being out there called God.

[bedwetter777]

Genetic technology is like every other technology that we have in that it gives us more options and power than before. Every technological power that we posses is equally capable of harming us as it is of helping us depending on the wisdom used in its application. Fire can both kill and cook meals. Nobody would consider not using fire because it can kill as well as help. With wisdom, we can tame any technology to suit us rather than harm us. Wisdom is what makes technological knowlege a help rather than a harm. The knowlege itself is not inherently good or bad all by itself.

[bedwetter777]

-no changing your mind then.
Posted by singinrick at 06:03 PM : Feb 06, 2008
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You might be surprised to find out that if your view of religion is right, the rest of us will be happier in Heeeellllll....
Posted by random_radar at 06:43 PM : Feb 06, 2008
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My father''s kingdom is spread across the face of the Earth, but men do not see. The kingdom of heaven is within... Judging by Singinrick''s abusive nature and general lack of treating others as he would like to be treated, I would say that he "does not see" and is already in hell. If there is a just, loving god, I think he would be less concerned about whether you think he exists than whether you treat his other creations with love and kindness.

[gurusavant]

modern genetic research and science are the only solution to devastating global man made catastrophies. attempts to restrict or discredit them are expressions of an outdated barbarian mentality. people who loudly demonize modern technological advancements and genetic research must be retarded or something.

[nothappyatall]

Mistakes in the mitochondria''s genetic code can result in serious diseases like muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, strokes and mental retardation. "

In other words- god''s ERRORS there as the designer causes those fatal diseases, thanks for clearing that up!

1) There is no attempt here to make a super-human. All they did was replace the mitochondria from the mother with the mitochondria from a donor.
2) There is no change in the number of "female genes".
3) The article seems wrong when it says, "They then transplanted that embryo into an emptied egg donated from a second woman who had healthy mitochondria." I think it should say they transplanted one nucleus into an emptied egg.
4) This technique is not going to select skin color, eye color, or other "desirable" attributes. (Note that the quotes mean that this word is not to be taken at face value. Quotes DO NOT mean EMPHASIS, although some people use them that way, to strange effect.)

[jimfinster]

singinrick:

Your church is tax exempt because the Federal Govt classifies it as a "religious organization." Ask your pastor.

[jimfinster]

-Please don''''t clone yourself jim. We know you''''re perfect already. :)
Posted by singinrick

Thank you, thank you very much.

[kennergirl]

The audacity of some people who want children that don''t have muscular dystrophy or are mentally retarded! I guess people could do what some others do here in our country..have an abortion until they get it right. Or better yet instead of wanting to have their own kids they should adopt some of the crack babies we have here that no one wants. I''m sorry by being so facetious but some of the posts are really funny like someone is making a master race or something. I don''t know of any race that is perfect...so making a "master" of any kind is a joke, right?

[Syndicate]

A super human? You give scientist to much credit. Think of this as a Lego set of imense complexity. The scientist just figured out how to swap batteries. Still no idea how the rest of it works. But hey we can change the battery.
What they are doing is changing the power station in our cells. The part of a cell that is us is in the center. They are not messing with that. Their just changing the part that powers it all up.
We shouldn''t do things just because we can we should do them to end suffering and to better ourselfs.
This isnt even remotley scary. What would be scary is if they could just go into the embryo and repair it. You know: oh theres an extra carbon atom here. Well we will just remove that and everything will be fine. Thats freakin scary. Good thing its forty years off.

[barbaraf4]

Just because we can do something doesn''t mean we should.

What exactly will become of this child?

[valentin73]

Are they trying to create a super human being. Let me guess; the two women and one man are probably white. Right?