British scientists will genetically modify embryos by the end of the year
- First embryos are set to be modified in London by the end of the year
- Experts say technique could one day explain why some women miscarry
- But critics say altering genes before a is step closer to designer babies
Ben Spencer, Medical Correspondent For The Daily Mail
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British scientists have passed the final regulatory hurdle in their bid to genetically modify human embryos for the first time.
The NHS approved the technique which will allow researchers to alter the DNA of embryos when they are only a day old.
Scientists the Francis Crick Institute in London are now to begin preparing for the project, with the first embryos to be modified later this year.
Experts say the technique will provide vital information about why some women are infertile or miscarry, and so help more couples become parents.
The NHS has now approved the technique which will allow researchers to alter the DNA of embryos when they are only a day old
But critics say altering genes before a child is born sets down a slippery slope to the creation of designer babies.
Scientists will be only allowed to use the technique for research, at least initially.
But opponents say that the knowledge gained from these first experiments could one day be used to alter embryos to provide babies ‘to order’, with parents in theory able to decide the colour of the eyes or hair of their child.
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The research team hit the headlines when its project was granted approval by the Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority in February.
But they could not start work on the programme until they were granted ethical approval by the NHS Health Research Authority, which was delivered yesterday.
The approval allows scientists to ‘turn off’ genes in the embryo, using a cutting edge genetic editing technique called Crispr.
They hoped blocking the genes one by one will reveal which are key to the development of a healthy embryo.
The information gained could help explain why so few fertilised eggs go on to make a baby.
Advocates say it could help discover why some women are infertile or miscarry but critics fear it is a step on a ‘slippery slope’ towards designer babies
Currently, fewer than half of eggs live for a week after fertilisation – and only one in eight lead to a pregnancy that lasts at least three months.
If scientists know more about what goes wrong then this could lead to IVF techniques being improved.
Researcher Dr Kathy Niakan said in February: ‘We believe this research could lead to improvements in fertility treatment, provide a really fundamental insight into some of the causes of miscarriage and a much deeper understanding of the earliest stages of human life.’
Embryos have only been genetically ‘edited’ once before, in China last year, in a process that was met with widespread condemnation.
The British decision is the first to go through a proper regulatory system.
A spokesman for the Francis Crick Institute said the Dr Niakan had received approval from NHS Health Research Association’s Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee.
She added: ‘Dr Niakan is beginning preparatory work on her research programme. Undertaking the research may still be some months away, since obtaining sufficient embryos will obviously take some time.’
The embryos used will have been donated by women who had some left over after going through IVF treatment. They will only be allowed to grow until they are a week old before being destroyed.
Up to 120 donated embryos will be used initially in the study of four genes and, if successful, the project could be extended.
Dr David King, director of the Human Genetics Alert organisation, said earlier this year: ‘This is the first step in a well-mapped-out process which is leading to GM babies, and a future of consumer eugenics.’
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