3-parent baby

FDA chides US doc who genetically modified human embryo in reported 3-person IVF

February 1, 2021 / By / 1 Comment
John-Zhang-with-3-person-IVF-baby

The FDA sent a stern letter today to Dr. John Zhang, PhD, MD, the physician who last year created a genetically modified human embryo in the U.S. and then exported it to Mexico where he self-reported creating a genetically modified baby boy. While the genetically modified baby created in Mexico was reportedly seemingly OK, it’s not clear …

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CRISPR, human genetic modification, & a needed course correction

February 1, 2021 / By / 9 Comments
coverGMO-e1498086048321

Are designer babies made using CRISPR or other genetic modification technologies closer to reality today? If so, what exactly should we do about it? Researchers can use CRISPR to genetically modify just about any organism or its cells, but targeting humans is the subject of the most intense discussion including using CRISPR in the human germline …

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Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques, the Mexican Case

February 1, 2021 / By / Leave a Comment
César-Palacios-Gonzalez

Earlier this week New Scientist broke the news that the first baby born after Maternal Spindle Transfer (a form of mitochondrial replacement) is already five months old, and even more, he seems to be doing well. Even when John Zhang’s team has achieved a world first, I agree with Dr. Alison Murdoch in that: “The …

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First 3-person IVF baby born via “rogue” experiment at Mexico clinic?

February 1, 2021 / By / 5 Comments
John-Zhang-with-3-person-IVF-baby

Today we got the first report of a baby being born via so-called “3-person IVF”, sometimes called 3-parent IVF, in which the DNA of three people contribute to an offspring. Before discussing this further I have to emphasize that we need proof that this is indeed really a 3-person IVF baby via genetic testing. Until that …

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Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte Cell Paper on Gene Editing for Mitochondrial Disease

February 1, 2021 / By / 2 Comments
Figure-6B

The Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte group published a Cell paper today on using gene editing to reverse mutations associated with human mitochondrial disease. The paper is Reddy, et al. and is entitled, “Selective Elimination of Mitochondrial Mutations in the Germline by Genome Editing”. The authors report success using TALEN-based gene editing or mitochondrial-direct restriction enzyme (mito-ApaLI) …

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Red flags in Sally Davies letter on 3-person IVF mitochondrial transfer

February 1, 2021 / By / 9 Comments
sally-davies

There’s been some back and forth between me and some members of the UK Parliament and others in the UK on the issue of mitochondrial transfer or 3-person IVF technology. Some of this has involved the UK equivalent of the Surgeon General, Professor Dame Sally Davies, who at one point apparently called my views “bunk”. I …

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Poll results: solid support, but desire for more data before 3-parent baby tech moves forward in humans

February 1, 2021 / By
3-person-poll

I ran a poll asking readers of this blog about their view of 3-parent IVF also known as mitochondrial transfer technology. The poll got 166 responses over a few days. The results are in and they are surprising to me at least. They trend toward some level of support rather than opposition to approval of …

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