Bioethics group to study technology behind ‘three parent babies’
Bioethics Advisory Committee reviewing new technology that can allow a child to be born without serious genetic defects
The Bioethics Advisory Committee has to consider the dilemmas associated with new technology that allows a child to be born without serious genetic defects, but with three genetic parents.
Mitochondrial genome replacement technology involves combining the genetic material (DNA) of a couple - who would otherwise be unlikely to have healthy children of their own - with that of a female egg donor.
That means the child would have the genetic makeup of three people, although the donor's contribution would account for less than 1 per cent of the child's DNA.
Even though the technology is still in its early stages, Singapore needs to start a conversation about it, said former senior district judge Richard Magnus, who leads the committee.
"Singapore needs to be able to do good science; ethical science," he said.
"We want to be able to provide and get ready a framework of legal, ethical and social principles with regard to the science of it."
Formed in 2000, the committee makes recommendations to the Government on the regulation of human biomedical research. It has launched a public consultation to discuss issues related to the treatment. It starts today and ends June 15.
Most inherited DNA is found in the nucleus of human cells. But some is also found in structures outside the nucleus, which are known as mitochondria.
FROM MUM
This mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from a baby's mother, and as far as scientists are aware, do not affect a person's physical or personality traits.
Most healthy people have a certain amount of abnormal mitochondrial DNA. However, because a randomly selected portion is passed on, a child may end up with a large amount of abnormal DNA.
These typically affect the heart and nervous system, and can contribute to epilepsy, blindness, deafness, and some form of mental deficiency. In severe cases, it can involve multiple organs and lead to an early death.
The technology aims to solve this problem by combining nuclear DNA from a woman who is at risk of passing on such a disorder, with the healthy mitochondrial DNA found in a donor's egg.
Britain was the first country to legalise this technology in 2015. But no formal clinical trials have been conducted among humans yet.
Since 2016, three babies have been born - one in Mexico and two in Ukraine - using this technology.
Those interested to attend the public dialgoue session can contact the committee at bioethics_singapore@moh.gov.sg.
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