Third parent in IVF cases will not be named

18.12.2014

Britain to allow triple-donor embryos to halt genetic diseases in world first - but extra mother's identity will be kept secret

Babies born using a new technique to eradicate serious illness would never get to know one of their parents, it has emerged.

The Government is pushing for the law to be changed to allow families blighted by incurable disease to have healthy children. It would make Britain the first country in the world to sanction the creation of babies that effectively have three parents – two mothers and a father.

However the genetic contribution from the second mother would be tiny – just 0.1 per cent – and so the Government has said her identity should be kept secret.

This differs from laws covering children born from sperm and eggs donated for regular IVF treatment, who can find out the donor’s identity when they turn 18.

Supporters say the legislation would allow those living in the shadow of incurable disease the chance to have a healthy child. But critics argue that genetically engineering eggs crosses a critical ethical line, and are concerned about the impact of children not knowing who their third parent is.

The technique, being perfected at Newcastle University, involves trying to prevent disease caused by faults in mitochondria, which cause serious illness in one in 6,500 babies.

Scientists have found a way of swapping the mother-to-be’s diseased mitochondria with healthy ones donated by another woman.

The technique involves removing the nucleus DNA from a fertilised egg, and inserting it into a donor egg where the nucleus DNA has been removed.

The resulting embryo would end up with the nucleus DNA from its parents - making up the vast majority - but the mitochondrial DNA from the donor, amounting to around 0.1 per cent.

Source: dailymail.co.uk