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UK Scientists to Create Embryo From Two Women

Posted by Zonk on from the we're-superfluous dept.

An anonymous reader wrote to mention a BBC story about a UK research group that has been given permission to create a human embryo with genetic material from two women. From the article: "The groundbreaking work aims to prevent mothers from passing certain genetic diseases on to their unborn babies. The researchers are focusing on a group of conditions called mitochondrial myopathy, which include types of muscular dystrophy. These cause muscle weakness and wasting, making it difficult to move normally - some may need to use a wheelchair. At present no treatment for these exists, although things can be done to help with the symptoms. "

4 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. Muscular dystrophy by lordsilence · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Having had my aunt die due to her muscle dystrophy (heart is also a muscle, remember?) I'm for one glad that research is done in the subject.

    I wonder how long time it'll take until we can get rid of the genetic defects which we otherwise risk pass on.

  2. Re:Beginning of a B-Movie? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think sperm was used to fertilize both eggs.

    That aside, what's wrong with sex not being used for reproduction? Many problems might be avoided if everyone were to be sterilized young and then must make a sane choice (when sober and old enough) in order to become pregnant via these techniques, which still require development in a womb.

    Plus, tons of free lovin' without consequences. That's what I'm talking about.

  3. Cytoplasm from one, nucleus from the other by Tau+Zero · · Score: 5, Interesting
    There's DNA in the mitochrondria, which is defective in the nucleus-donor egg but (hopefully) good in the cytoplasm-donor egg. Think of it as trying to replace a chromosome with a defective gene, made easier because this chromosome isn't in the nucleus.

    Curiously, the DNA in the mitochondria use a slightly different genetic code than our nuclear DNA does; genes have moved from the mitochondria to the nucleus over time, but the process is not complete. It's believed that mitochondria come from an ancient endosymbiosis event.

    --
    Time is Nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once... the bitch.
  4. Re:Beginning of a B-Movie? by AEton · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There was an episode of Sliders with a slightly different setup but the same conclusion. ("Love Gods"). It was a whole lot like another episode where LOL WOMEN R THE LEADERZ ("The Weaker Sex").

    --
    We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.