The House of Lords voted 280 votes to 48 to approve changes to the in vitro-fertilisation (IVF) law allowing fertility clinics to carry out mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) donation
London : Britain has become the first country in the world to legalise the creation of human embryos from the DNA of three people, a controversial technique aimed at preventing the passing on of deadly genetic diseases from mothers to children.
The House of Lords- the upper house of the British Parliament- voted 280 votes to 48 on Tuesday to approve changes to the in vitro-fertilisation (IVF) law allowing fertility clinics to carry out mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) donation.
The bill was approved earlier this month by the House of Commons and clinics can apply for licences to use the technique from later this year.
Babies conceived via this IVF technique would have biological material from three different people – a mother, father and a female donor.
It is aimed at preventing incurable genetic diseases from being passed on to child from mother, and is expected to help thousands of people a year.
“Families can see that the technology is there to help them and are keen to take it up, they have noted the conclusions of the expert panel,” Health minister Lord Howe told the House.
“It would be cruel and perverse in my opinion, to deny them that opportunity for any longer than absolutely necessary.”
Aditi Khanna
