The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has found that mitochondrial techniques developed at Newcastle University are safe.
In its report on the third review into the safety and efficacy of techniques for mitochondrial replacement, the HFEA recommended that they be considered 'not unsafe' for use on a 'specific and defined group of patients'.
The pioneering work, first announced in 2010, is aimed at helping an estimated 1 in 200 children born every year in the UK who have some form of mitochondrial DNA disorder. These disorders, including heart disease, liver disease, loss of muscle co-ordination and other serious conditions that can have a devastating impact on the people who inherit it and can be fatal. However, at present, mitochondrial donation techniques to prevent the transmission of serious mitochondrial disease are prohibited.
In February 2014, the Government launched a consultation on draft regulations for the use techniques to prevent mothers passing on serious mitochondrial diseases. Such treatments have not been carried out anywhere in the world and are currently illegal in the UK.
As part of the consultation, the Department of Health requested that the HFEA reconvene its Expert Panel to examine the safety and effectiveness of these techniques. This was the third review, with similar undertakings being carried out by panels in 2011 and 2013. The review was commissioned by the Government to contribute towards a decision on whether such techniques should be made legal.
Sally Cheshire, Chair of the HFEA, praised the open-minded process undertaken by the Panel, concluding that it is now for Government to decide the next step.
"The science is complex, but the aim is simple: to enable mothers to not pass on to their children a range of serious, and sometimes fatal, inherited conditions. In all of our discussions we should not lose sight of this.
"Now it is a question for others. If the Government decides to seek to change the law they will need the approval of both Houses of Parliament, and it is only right that they consider all the ramifications, social as well as medical, before they make up their minds."
Reacting to the report, Professor Doug Turnbull, who has led the research at Newcastle University, said: "It is very encouraging that this respected and independent group of scientists have concluded that the techniques would be useful to prevent serious mitochondrial DNA disease and the evidence shows that they are not unsafe. Further work is needed and it is even more important that Parliament is able to decide whether these techniques should be allowed in the UK."
Explore further: UK to consult on draft rules for 3-parent embryos
More information: The report is available online: http://ift.tt/1rKVMg2
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
UK to consult on draft rules for 3-parent embryos
Feb 27, 2014
(AP)—Britain is inviting the public to weigh in on draft rules allowing scientists to create embryos using DNA from three people—a man and two women—to prevent mothers from passing on potentially fatal genetic diseases.
UK: Public OK with creating babies from three people
Mar 20, 2013
Britain's fertility regulator says it has found broad public support for in vitro fertilization techniques that allow babies to be created with DNA from three people for couples at risk of passing on potentially fatal genetic ...
'Three-parent babies' public consultation launched
Sep 17, 2012
The British public are being consulted on the ethics of a fertility treatment that uses DNA from a third parent to help eliminate genetic diseases, the government announced on Monday.
Making embryos from three people doesn't look unsafe
20 hours ago
Britain's fertility regulator says controversial techniques to create embryos from the DNA of three people "do not appear to be unsafe" even though no one has ever received the treatment, according to a new ...
UK may OK creating babies with DNA from 3 people
Jun 27, 2013
(AP)—Britain may allow a controversial technique to create babies using DNA from three people, a move that would help couples avoid passing on rare genetic diseases, the country's top medical officer says.
Recommended for you
Short intervals between pregnancies result in decreased pregnancy length
6 hours ago
Women who have short intervals between pregnancies of less than 18 months are more likely to see a decrease in the length of subsequent pregnancies, finds a new study published today (4 June) in BJOG: An International Jo ...
Making embryos from three people doesn't look unsafe
20 hours ago
Britain's fertility regulator says controversial techniques to create embryos from the DNA of three people "do not appear to be unsafe" even though no one has ever received the treatment, according to a new ...
Risk of serious complications in obstetric anesthesia is low
May 29, 2014
(HealthDay)—The risk of serious complications in obstetric anesthesia is low, according to research published in the June issue of Anesthesiology.
PCOS diagnosis tied to inflammation during pregnancy
May 29, 2014
Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome – the most common hormone disorder in women of reproductive age – are more likely to experience chronic low-grade inflammation during pregnancy than counterparts who do not have ...
Egg and sperm donors think one to ten children is acceptable
May 28, 2014
Between one and ten children – that is what the majority of Swedish egg and sperm donors think is an acceptable level for their assistance to childless couples. Female donors are more restrictive than male donors, according ...
Poor diet before pregnancy is linked with preterm birth
May 23, 2014
(Medical Xpress)—University of Adelaide research has for the first time confirmed that women who eat a poor diet before they become pregnant are around 50% more likely to have a preterm birth than those ...
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has found that mitochondrial techniques developed at Newcastle University are safe.
In its report on the third review into the safety and efficacy of techniques for mitochondrial replacement, the HFEA recommended that they be considered 'not unsafe' for use on a 'specific and defined group of patients'.
The pioneering work, first announced in 2010, is aimed at helping an estimated 1 in 200 children born every year in the UK who have some form of mitochondrial DNA disorder. These disorders, including heart disease, liver disease, loss of muscle co-ordination and other serious conditions that can have a devastating impact on the people who inherit it and can be fatal. However, at present, mitochondrial donation techniques to prevent the transmission of serious mitochondrial disease are prohibited.
In February 2014, the Government launched a consultation on draft regulations for the use techniques to prevent mothers passing on serious mitochondrial diseases. Such treatments have not been carried out anywhere in the world and are currently illegal in the UK.
As part of the consultation, the Department of Health requested that the HFEA reconvene its Expert Panel to examine the safety and effectiveness of these techniques. This was the third review, with similar undertakings being carried out by panels in 2011 and 2013. The review was commissioned by the Government to contribute towards a decision on whether such techniques should be made legal.
Sally Cheshire, Chair of the HFEA, praised the open-minded process undertaken by the Panel, concluding that it is now for Government to decide the next step.
"The science is complex, but the aim is simple: to enable mothers to not pass on to their children a range of serious, and sometimes fatal, inherited conditions. In all of our discussions we should not lose sight of this.
"Now it is a question for others. If the Government decides to seek to change the law they will need the approval of both Houses of Parliament, and it is only right that they consider all the ramifications, social as well as medical, before they make up their minds."
Reacting to the report, Professor Doug Turnbull, who has led the research at Newcastle University, said: "It is very encouraging that this respected and independent group of scientists have concluded that the techniques would be useful to prevent serious mitochondrial DNA disease and the evidence shows that they are not unsafe. Further work is needed and it is even more important that Parliament is able to decide whether these techniques should be allowed in the UK."
Explore further: UK to consult on draft rules for 3-parent embryos
More information: The report is available online: http://ift.tt/1rKVMg2
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
UK to consult on draft rules for 3-parent embryos
Feb 27, 2014
(AP)—Britain is inviting the public to weigh in on draft rules allowing scientists to create embryos using DNA from three people—a man and two women—to prevent mothers from passing on potentially fatal genetic diseases.
UK: Public OK with creating babies from three people
Mar 20, 2013
Britain's fertility regulator says it has found broad public support for in vitro fertilization techniques that allow babies to be created with DNA from three people for couples at risk of passing on potentially fatal genetic ...
'Three-parent babies' public consultation launched
Sep 17, 2012
The British public are being consulted on the ethics of a fertility treatment that uses DNA from a third parent to help eliminate genetic diseases, the government announced on Monday.
Making embryos from three people doesn't look unsafe
20 hours ago
Britain's fertility regulator says controversial techniques to create embryos from the DNA of three people "do not appear to be unsafe" even though no one has ever received the treatment, according to a new ...
UK may OK creating babies with DNA from 3 people
Jun 27, 2013
(AP)—Britain may allow a controversial technique to create babies using DNA from three people, a move that would help couples avoid passing on rare genetic diseases, the country's top medical officer says.
Recommended for you
Short intervals between pregnancies result in decreased pregnancy length
6 hours ago
Women who have short intervals between pregnancies of less than 18 months are more likely to see a decrease in the length of subsequent pregnancies, finds a new study published today (4 June) in BJOG: An International Jo ...
Making embryos from three people doesn't look unsafe
20 hours ago
Britain's fertility regulator says controversial techniques to create embryos from the DNA of three people "do not appear to be unsafe" even though no one has ever received the treatment, according to a new ...
Risk of serious complications in obstetric anesthesia is low
May 29, 2014
(HealthDay)—The risk of serious complications in obstetric anesthesia is low, according to research published in the June issue of Anesthesiology.
PCOS diagnosis tied to inflammation during pregnancy
May 29, 2014
Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome – the most common hormone disorder in women of reproductive age – are more likely to experience chronic low-grade inflammation during pregnancy than counterparts who do not have ...
Egg and sperm donors think one to ten children is acceptable
May 28, 2014
Between one and ten children – that is what the majority of Swedish egg and sperm donors think is an acceptable level for their assistance to childless couples. Female donors are more restrictive than male donors, according ...
Poor diet before pregnancy is linked with preterm birth
May 23, 2014
(Medical Xpress)—University of Adelaide research has for the first time confirmed that women who eat a poor diet before they become pregnant are around 50% more likely to have a preterm birth than those ...
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
0 comments:
Post a Comment