Running a cost-benefit ruler over 3-parent babies
The benefits for children born after mitochondrial donation – better known as three-parent babies – are easily demonstrated: no potentially lethal mitochondrial disease. Their parents...
Mitochondrial donation: sold as a miracle, now it seems that it could CAUSE disease
One of the most controversial procedures in artificial reproduction is “three-parent IVF”. After acrimonious debates, it was legalised in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia....
Fertility watchdog wants to overhaul UK laws on embryos
The UK’s fertility regulator is seeking to liberalise techniques for manipulating human embryos in assisted reproduction and research. The Guardian describes its plans as “the...
The wisdom of Albert Tochilovsky, owner of Ukraine’s biggest surrogacy business
Since the Kyiv-based IVF clinic BioTexCom is the probably the largest surrogacy agency in the world, its owner’s thoughts about the future of assisted reproduction...
Three-parent embryo law passed in Australia
A bill authorising three-parent embryos sailed through the upper house of the Australian Parliament in late March after a fierce debate. “Maeve’s Law”, named after...
Will human germline editing promote equality?
No, says Scottish bioethicist The topic of heritable genome editing is still very much alive, as Australia’s move towards legalising replacement mitochondrial therapy shows. An...
Australian parliament to vote on 3-parent babies
For the first time since the same-sex marriage debate, Australian politicians are to have a conscience vote – this time on the controversial issue of...
3-parent babies: Singapore and Ukraine
A clinic in Ukraine is already performing the technique and marketing it internationally Singapore could become the second country after the United Kingdom to legalize...
Alfie Evans ‘culture wars’
Bioethicists have criticised the politicisation of the case. In a new editorial in the journal Bioethics, bioethicist Udo Schuklenk criticises the politicisation of the recent...
What does it mean to be a genetic parent?
Bioethicists are asking, "what counts as genetic parenthood?". In a world where assisted reproduction is becoming increasingly common, bioethicists are beginning to ask the question:...
Should lesbian couples have access to mitochondrial replacement therapy?
It would allow their child to have two genetic mothers “Three parent babies!!!!” was a shock-horror headline across the world when the UK was debating...
British infant has life support withdrawn after court battle
A court has ordered life support to be withdrawn from an 11-month-old boy. A British High Court judge has told doctors that they can remove...