IN A few weeks, the UK is set to decide whether to become the first country to allow the creation of 鈥渢hree-parent babies鈥�. The government鈥檚 scientific advisers are urging a yes vote, but the debate will be bitter and divisive. Opponents argue that the technology is not ready. It now seems they may be right 鈥� albeit for the wrong reasons.
The debate concerns a technique called mitochondrial replacement. Designed to prevent diseases caused by mutations in the mitochondria 鈥� the cell鈥檚 power packs 鈥� it uses donor mitochondria to replace the mother鈥檚 faulty ones. Hence the 鈥渢hree-parent鈥� tag: mitochondria have their own genome, so the child ends up with genes from three people.
Proponents argue the name is misleading: mitochondria and their genomes are purely functional, limited to producing energy and exerting no influence on appearance, personality, intelligence or other human attributes that we value.
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Now it appears that we may have seriously underestimated the influence that mitochondria have. Recent research suggests that they play a key role in some of the most important features of human life (see 鈥�Possessed! The powerful aliens that lurk within you鈥�). This raises the ethically troubling prospect 鈥� once widely dismissed, including by this publication (23 March 2013, p 3) 鈥� that children conceived in this way will inherit vital traits from three parents.
Up to now, the debate in the UK has focused on safety and efficacy. These matter, of course. But they must now be joined by a serious debate about the ethics.
The new findings may not be a deal-breaker: the humanitarian benefits of mitochondrial replacement arguably outweigh the ethical concerns. Prospective parents may decide that they are happy to have a child with some traits from a third 鈥減arent鈥�.
But the emerging science and the issues it raises have not had a proper airing. They urgently need to be brought to parliament鈥檚 attention, debated and settled before a decision is made.
A UK government adviser has written a response to this leader: 鈥�Mitochondrial replacement: no need for a rethink鈥�
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淭hree-parent baby U-turn?鈥�
