In-vitro Fertilization
A recent report reveals that the number of IVF births in the US per year is on the growing side. In Picture: Human genetic material is stored at a laboratory in Munich May 23, 2011. On May 25, 2011 the ethic commission of the German lower house of parliament (Bundestag) will discuss about alternative proposals for a new law on the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (Praeimplantationsdiagnostik) is a technique used to identify genetic defects in embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) before pregnancy, which is banned by German legislation. Reuters

Britain’s House of Lords voted on Tuesday to approve the in-vitro fertilisation technique of three-parent IVF, making it the first country in the world to permit creation of a child using the DNA of three parents.

The House of Lord approved it by a majority vote of 232. The House of Commons also passed the bill by a large majority in early February.

However, based on rules passed in December, the use of three-parent IVF would be limited to cases that would prevent genetic disorders. That would mean only about a dozen cases yearly in the UK wherein the woman has faulty mitochondria, reports CBS.

But according to estimates, it would mean about 150 couples would be suitable to undergo the technique annually, reports BBC.

Faulty mitochondria is a genetic flaw that causes the parents to pass inherited condition with devastating conditions such as muscular dystrophy, mental retardation and other problems that would affect the child’s heart and other vital organs.

Every cell in the human body has tiny compartments, called mitochondria, which converts food into useable energy. Mitochondria with genetic defects result in the body having insufficient energy to keep the heart beating or the brain functioning.

The three-parent IVF used a modified version developed in Newcastle that combines the healthy mitochondria of a donor woman with the DNA of two parents, resulting in infants with 0.1 percent of their DNA from the female door. The change in the baby’s DNA is permanent which it would be passed to future generations.

With the approval of the British parliament, the first three-parent baby could be born by 2016. In the next six months, the UK fertility regular would develop and publish licensing rules on how it would assess applicants for three-person IVF. By early summer, the team in Newcastle, in response to the demand by the regulator, would publish the final safety experiments.

The regulations would come into force by Oct 29, 2015, and clinics could start to apply to the regulator for a licence beginning Nov 24. As the year ends, the first try could take place.

There was opposition to the practice, which the Church of England described as “playing God.” But in defence of the technique, British Health Minister Lord Howe said, “It would be cruel and perverse in my opinion, to deny them [families] that opportunity for any longer than absolutely necessary.”

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Chairwoman Sally Chesire agreed, saying “It is a testament to the scientific expertise and well-respected regulatory regime that exists across the UK that Parliament felt able to approve it.”

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au