www.thecourieronline.co.uk Tuesday 12 March 2013 Issue 1268 Free
Spring 2013 ‘Three parents, one baby’ researchers seek permission Genetic research may cure • hereditary diseases IVF technique dubbed by • sceptics as ‘frankenscience’ A neurology professor at the University’s medical school has defended research into a highly controversial new IVF technique, which uses the DNA of one man and two women to create one baby. Professor Doug Turnbull, leader of the research team at the institute of Ageing and Health at Newcastle University, argues against claims the technique is ‘playing God’. The research, entitled in the press as ‘the three parent baby’, will use the DNA of one fertilised egg with faulty mito-
necessity for action to be taken against mitochondrial disease. “Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell. We have mitochondria in every tissue and I look after a group of patients who have diseases of them. These provide a variety of different symptoms; very severe defects in the mitochondria will undoubtedly cause you to die in the first few years of life. These are progressive and serious diseases, for which there is no other cure.” The technique has no unknown side effects as of yet, although babies will be born with the genetic make up of two different mothers, leaving the technique open to ethical debate. Researchers in
chondria, and implant it into a healthier egg cell of another woman. Mitochondria are the power stations existing outside a cell’s nucleus, providing energy to every other cell in the human body. Currently banned in the UK, scientists at the medical school will hear from Parliament next Wednesday whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) will grant permission to carry out the new IVF technique. Permission granted for the research to go ahead would mean a breakthrough in scientific innovation, as well as progress in preventing humans being born with incurable mitochondrial diseases, which may result in premature death. These conditions affect one in every 200 babies born. In an exclusive meeting with The Courier, Professor Turnbull explained the
America have already carried out the IVF treatment upon primates, with evidence showing the technique is viable to use on human egg cells. “We’re never going to know whether this technique has long term effects. We also need to check whether the technique is efficient. If it takes only one egg out of one hundred to work, that’s not going to be feasible.” “We need to know what is the public’s view on this. There are people like me who have looked at the patients and think this is a good idea. But there are people who think this is completely wrong.” “The people who have these kind of views are perhaps the people who don’t use IVF, and I totally acknowledge those views. The HFEA need to check whether this view belongs to a minority of continued on page 8
By Susie Beever and Jonny Farrar-Bell
“People make reproductive choices. It’s not for me to prejudge what those choices are. I just want to provide people with a choice.”
special pullout inside
Victory! Stan Calvert 8-page special inside
Car accident on Claremont Road By Georgie Moule A 50 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop after an accident after a 29 year-old woman was injured in a car accident on campus last week. The woman, believed to be a student, was hit by a car at the crossing on Claremont Road, under Claremont Bridge on Thursday afternoon and taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary with serious
but not life-threatening injuries. A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “At 3.07pm Northumbria
Police and ambulance attended and the pedestrian was taken to hospital.” Enquiries are ongoing, and anybody
Police received a report of a collision involving a car and pedestrian in the city centre near the Hancock Museum.
with information is asked to contact police on 101, ext. 69191.
“The woman was hit by a car at the crossing on Claremond Road on Thursday afternoon and taken to the RVI”