Britain clears the way for 'designer babies'

BRITAIN: Britain's fertility watchdog gave the go-ahead yesterday for so-called "designer babies" which parents hope will provide…

BRITAIN: Britain's fertility watchdog gave the go-ahead yesterday for so-called "designer babies" which parents hope will provide a means to cure sick siblings.

The change, a policy reversal, is predicted to spark a furious backlash from pro-life groups, who have warned it will lead to a "rush down a very worrying slippery slope".

Past cases have allowed parents to use screening if it is also of benefit to the embryo, but not when the only purpose is to create genetic conditions to help another with no benefit to the child to be born.

In a statement the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said it had decided to extend the rules allowing embryos to be tested in order for families to have a child who could be a tissue match for a seriously ill brother or sister.

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"In 2001 the HFEA adopted a precautionary approach when considering this procedure and decided that it should only be permitted when it was combined with tests to enable parents to select embryos which are free from a serious genetic disorder," said a statement.

"This was because the technique is invasive and there was a concern about a potential risk of damaging the embryo, so tissue typing was only allowed on cells which had already been taken from the embryo for genetic diagnosis. The HFEA has now carefully reviewed the medical, psychological and emotional implications for children and their families as well as the safety of the technique.

"There have been three further years during which successful embryo biopsies have been carried out, both in the UK and abroad and we are not aware of any evidence of increased risk."

The technique involves taking a cell sample from the embryo and allows a clinician to tissue-type to find a match for an existing child.

HFEA chairwoman Ms Suzi Leather said: "Our job is also to consider the welfare of the tissue-matched child which will be born. Our review of the evidence available does not indicate that the embryo biopsy procedure disadvantages resulting babies compared to other IVF babies."