UK government backs three-person IVF
The UK looks set to become the first country to allow the creation of babies using DNA from three people, after the government backed the IVF technique. - It will produce draft regulations later this year and the procedure could be offered within two years. Experts say three-person IVF could eliminate debilitating and potentially fatal mitochondrial diseases that are passed on from mother to child. Opponents say it is unethical and could set the UK on a "slippery slope". They also argue that affected couples could adopt or use egg donors instead. Designer baby: "It is a disaster that the decision to cross the line that will eventually lead to a eugenic designer baby market should be taken on the basis of an utterly biased and inadequate consultation." One of the main concerns raised in the HFEA's public consultation was of a "slippery slope" which could lead to other forms of genetic modification. Draft regulations will be produced this year with a final version expected to be debated and voted on in Parliament during 2014.