Embryos created with DNA from 3 people

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

British scientists have created human embryos containing DNA from two women and one man, a procedure that could potentially prevent conditions including epilepsy, diabetes and heart failure.

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 process aims to avoid passing onto children bad mitochondria genes, which are contained outside the nucleus in a normal female egg. Mitochondria are a cell's energy source, but mistakes in their genetic code can result in serious diseases like 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.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080205/ap_on_sc/embryo_research

[northzax]

1. I wonder what Mittens thinks of this

sure, it's tweaking with God's creation, etc, etc. but on the other hand, it is scientific justification for polygamy! now I can have kids with the good features of BOTH my wives.

[XemaSab]

6. Mitochondrial DNA does not affect appearance

:P

[Tesha]

8. Well, unless it's seriously defective. (NT)

[qb]

2. What an inflammatory headline. It brings to mind images of infants with extra limbs.

A more appropriate headline would emphasize the goals of the research.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Wonder if that's where GWB came from

the first time they tried it with Larry, Curly and Moe ?

[jwirr]

4. My daughter's epilepsy and mental retardation would not have

been averted this way although I wish it could have been that easy. She was damaged in the first trimester by a mixture of farm chemicals in the water I drank.

[Akoto]

5. So, genetically speaking ...

Would it be as though the resulting child had two mothers and one father? Just curious.

[XemaSab]

7. Genetically speaking it'd be really wierd...

Normal DNA that affects appearance, etc would be from two of the parents, but if the kid went to go have genetic lineage testing done, then the other "mommy" would show up.

Good times. :D