herenciageneticayenfermedad: Baby born from three parent technique

domingo, 2 de octubre de 2016

Baby born from three parent technique

Baby born from three parent technique

Bioedge

Baby born from three parent technique

by Xavier Symons | 1 Oct 2016 |

American doctors have announced the first successful birth of a baby conceived using Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT) -- a controversial new assisted reproductive technique. A team of doctors based in the US travelled to Mexico to perform the experimental procedure on a Jordanian couple who had previously given birth to children with severe genetic disorders.

MRT involves the transfer of 'healthy' mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from a donor into the egg of a mother known to have unhealthy mtDNA. The two most popular methods of transfer are known as pronuclear transfer, which has been approved for use in the UK, and spindle nuclear transfer, which was performed on the couple in question.

The baby boy was born without any detectable genetic conditions. Two earlier children born to the couple suffered from Leigh Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects the developing nervous system.

The pregnancy was overseen by Professor John Zhang from New Hope Fertility Center in New York City. Professor Zhang says he would "love to ... reach out to more families that might need help". Professor Zhang says he has no ethical regrets about carrying out the experimental procedure in a country where "there are no rules". “To save lives is the ethical thing to do,” he told the New Scientist.

However, other researchers questioned the ethics of the procedure. First, this is science by press release. Media reports were largely based on an article in New Scientist, which supplemented an abstract in the journal Fertility and Sterility of a presentation to be given at a conference later this month. Details are very sketchy. Second, the procedure was carried out in Mexico to evade oversight by the FDA.

- See more at: http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/baby-born-from-three-parent-technique/12028#sthash.bLXNcjLa.dpuf

Bioedge

Yes, the American president is the most powerful man in the world. Yes, he has the launch codes. But there is something unhealthy in the preoccupation of the world’s media with the US presidential campaign at the expense of other world crises.

Donald Trump, who must be the worst major party candidate ever, seems to have incited violence at some of his rallies and has even made vague threats to Hillary Clinton. If you Google “Trump violence”, you will get 82,700,000 results. It’s a live issue, at least in the media.

Google “Duterte violence” and you will get only 971,000 results – about 1% of the figures for Trump. But Mr Duterte has incited thugs, vigilantes and police to kill drug dealers and since he took office on June 30. The Filipino president now has the blood of 3,500 of his own countrymen on his hands. And he is not a buffoon running for President. He is the President.

But it could get worse. This week he cheerfully compared himself to Hitler. “Hitler massacred three million Jews ... there’s three million drug addicts. There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them,” he told a press conference. “You know my victims. I would like (them) to be all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition.”

The number of murders in July, August and September is more or less equivalent to the number of civilians killed in Syria. Why doesn’t the world care? It’s probably because Duterte’s victims are drug addicts and dealers. Even if they are, they have a right to life and a right to justice. They are human beings; they are not scum.

The world is demanding the removal of Syria’s President Assad because of the atrocities committed by his regime. It’s time that world leaders called for the removal of President Duterte.