Britain Set to Approve Technique to Create Babies From 3 People- marthathomas

Martha Thomas

Mr. Ippolito

2/10/15

Current Events:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/world/europe/britain-nears-approval-of-fertilization-technique-that-combines-dna-of-three-people.html?ref=science

               This article was about how in Britain a law is going to be passed, allowing an operation that makes it possible for a baby to be a product of three different people.  This process eliminates the chances that the baby may inherit a mitochondria disease from its parents. This process involves the embryo possessing the nucleus of its mother, but the mitochondria of a donor.   This law has been passed by the House of Commons, but is still waiting for its approval from the House of Lords (but this article predicts that the House of Lords will also approve the law).  This is a highly controversial topic. People against the law claim that it promotes “designer babies”.  The Catholic Church opposes the law, because it destroys human embryo.   But the law is supported by majority of people in Britain due to its health benefits to people with mitochondria diseases.

           This advancement in the field of genetics will be revolutionary.  Although many argue that it promotes “designer babies”, it will only be used when necessary for the baby’s health.  This operation will improve the lives of so many who might have been at risk for mitochondria disease.  People with mitochondria disease often have muscle wastage, stroke, loss of vision, and premature death. Many people have mitochondria disease, and many people are misdiagnosed.  That is why this operation could be crucial in eliminating it from the lives of so many children.

           This article was very well written and objective.  It presented both sides of the ongoing debate in Britain.  It talked about the political and religious oppositions to the law, and the benefits that it will bring about if it gets passed.  It talks about the scientific process that makes this operation possible, and the social reaction to it.  This article looks at the law from all different angles and viewpoints, allowing the reader to come to a fair conclusion about it.

Works Cited

Castle, Stephen. "Britain Set to Approve Technique to Create Babies From 3 People." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Feb. 2015. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.