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| Three-person baby debate begins in Parliament | Three-person baby debate begins in Parliament |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MPs should take the "bold step" to allow the creation of babies from three people, Public Health Minister Jane Ellison says. | |
| She said it was "light at the end of a dark tunnel" for families facing deadly genetic disease. | |
| In a debate, other MPs warned "there will be no going back for society" and criticised uncontrolled experimenting. | |
| The UK could become the first country to introduce laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. | The UK could become the first country to introduce laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. |
| If there is a "yes" vote, then the first three-person baby could be born as soon as next year. It could eventually help about 150 couples a year. | |
| Debate | |
| Public Health Minister Jane Ellison told the House: "This is a bold step for parliament to take, but it is a considered and informed step. | |
| "This is world leading science within a highly respected regulatory regime. | |
| "And for the many families affected, this is light at the end of a very dark tunnel." | |
| The technique, which was developed in Newcastle, should help women like Sharon Bernardi, from Sunderland, who lost all seven of her children to mitochondrial disease. | The technique, which was developed in Newcastle, should help women like Sharon Bernardi, from Sunderland, who lost all seven of her children to mitochondrial disease. |
| Mitochondria are the tiny compartments inside nearly every cell of the body that convert food into useable energy. They have their own DNA which does not affect characteristics such as appearance. | Mitochondria are the tiny compartments inside nearly every cell of the body that convert food into useable energy. They have their own DNA which does not affect characteristics such as appearance. |
| Defective mitochondria, which are passed down only from the mother, lead to brain damage, muscle wasting, heart failure and blindness. | Defective mitochondria, which are passed down only from the mother, lead to brain damage, muscle wasting, heart failure and blindness. |
| The technique uses a modified version of IVF to combine the DNA of the two parents with the healthy mitochondria of a donor woman. | The technique uses a modified version of IVF to combine the DNA of the two parents with the healthy mitochondria of a donor woman. |
| It results in babies with 0.1% of their DNA from the second woman and is a permanent change that would be passed down through the generations. | It results in babies with 0.1% of their DNA from the second woman and is a permanent change that would be passed down through the generations. |
| The government backs the measure in principle. | The government backs the measure in principle. |
| However, MPs will be given a free vote, as it is an issue of conscience, rather than being forced down party lines. | However, MPs will be given a free vote, as it is an issue of conscience, rather than being forced down party lines. |
| Mr Cameron said: "I think it has be thoroughly researched and tested and as someone who had a severely disabled child myself, I know what parents go through when they are concerned about these issues. | Mr Cameron said: "I think it has be thoroughly researched and tested and as someone who had a severely disabled child myself, I know what parents go through when they are concerned about these issues. |
| "So science can help in this way, all the arguments are in favour, we should make sure these treatments are available." | "So science can help in this way, all the arguments are in favour, we should make sure these treatments are available." |
| Prof Doug Turnbull, the director of the Wellcome Trust centre for mitochondrial research where the technique was pioneered, urged MPs to vote in favour. | Prof Doug Turnbull, the director of the Wellcome Trust centre for mitochondrial research where the technique was pioneered, urged MPs to vote in favour. |
| He told the BBC News website: "This is research that has been suggested by the patients, supported by patients and is for the patients, and that's an important message." | He told the BBC News website: "This is research that has been suggested by the patients, supported by patients and is for the patients, and that's an important message." |
| That message was backed up by calls from British Nobel Prize-winning scientists and 40 leading scientists from 14 countries. | That message was backed up by calls from British Nobel Prize-winning scientists and 40 leading scientists from 14 countries. |
| But not everyone agrees. | But not everyone agrees. |
| What will happen? | What will happen? |
| Last week the Catholic and Anglican Churches in England said the idea was not safe or ethical, not least because it involved the destruction of embryos. | Last week the Catholic and Anglican Churches in England said the idea was not safe or ethical, not least because it involved the destruction of embryos. |
| Other groups, including Human Genetics Alert, say the move would open the door to further genetic modification of children in the future - so-called designer babies, genetically modified for beauty, intelligence or to be free of disease. | Other groups, including Human Genetics Alert, say the move would open the door to further genetic modification of children in the future - so-called designer babies, genetically modified for beauty, intelligence or to be free of disease. |
| David King, from the campaign group, said: "Once you cross the ethical line, it is very hard not to take the next step of designer babies. | David King, from the campaign group, said: "Once you cross the ethical line, it is very hard not to take the next step of designer babies. |
| "All our experience says we are pushed down slopes by thousands of people who are paid to make sure we go that way." | "All our experience says we are pushed down slopes by thousands of people who are paid to make sure we go that way." |
| Dr Gillian Lockwood, a reproductive ethicist, told the BBC it was a "small change" in the legislation. | Dr Gillian Lockwood, a reproductive ethicist, told the BBC it was a "small change" in the legislation. |
| "The biggest problem is that this has been described as three-parent IVF. In fact it is 2.001-parent IVF," she said. | "The biggest problem is that this has been described as three-parent IVF. In fact it is 2.001-parent IVF," she said. |
| "Less than a tenth of one per cent of the genome is actually going to be affected. It is not part of what makes us genetically who we are. | "Less than a tenth of one per cent of the genome is actually going to be affected. It is not part of what makes us genetically who we are. |
| "It doesn't affect height, eye colour, intelligence, musicality. It simply allows the batteries to work properly." | "It doesn't affect height, eye colour, intelligence, musicality. It simply allows the batteries to work properly." |
| Safety concerns | Safety concerns |
| A review by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, as well as a public consultation by the fertility regulator, argued the creation of three-person babies was ethical. | A review by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, as well as a public consultation by the fertility regulator, argued the creation of three-person babies was ethical. |
| Three scientific reviews by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) suggest the technique is "not unsafe". | Three scientific reviews by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) suggest the technique is "not unsafe". |
| Yet some scientists argue those reviews were flawed. | Yet some scientists argue those reviews were flawed. |
| Dr Ted Morrow, from the University of Sussex, believes there are still uncertainties. | Dr Ted Morrow, from the University of Sussex, believes there are still uncertainties. |
| "I have some concerns about the safety, I'm really not happy that the reviews have been as exemplary as other people think they are." | "I have some concerns about the safety, I'm really not happy that the reviews have been as exemplary as other people think they are." |
| Prof Lisa Jardine, former chair of the HFEA, said the safety issue was a "red herring". | Prof Lisa Jardine, former chair of the HFEA, said the safety issue was a "red herring". |
| "All of those issues have been investigated," she said. "The scientific committees have said there is no evidence this procedure is unsafe but like all good scientists, they say it will require careful progress." | "All of those issues have been investigated," she said. "The scientific committees have said there is no evidence this procedure is unsafe but like all good scientists, they say it will require careful progress." |
| Bishop of Swindon Dr Lee Rayfield said this procedure was a "massive step" and some of his colleagues were concerned about how it was going to be regulated once approved. | Bishop of Swindon Dr Lee Rayfield said this procedure was a "massive step" and some of his colleagues were concerned about how it was going to be regulated once approved. |
| "If the safeguards are there, the Church of England will be behind this," he added. | "If the safeguards are there, the Church of England will be behind this," he added. |
| Rachel Kean, whose aunt died from mitochondrial disease, told BBC Breakfast that a yes vote would "prevent some of the cruellest and most devastating diseases, not just for the next generation but generations after". | Rachel Kean, whose aunt died from mitochondrial disease, told BBC Breakfast that a yes vote would "prevent some of the cruellest and most devastating diseases, not just for the next generation but generations after". |
| She said there had been an "unprecedented" amount of scrutiny into the regulation and a lot of misinformation about "designer babies". | She said there had been an "unprecedented" amount of scrutiny into the regulation and a lot of misinformation about "designer babies". |
| If politicians vote it through, then the HFEA is expected to give Newcastle a licence to carry out the procedure. | If politicians vote it through, then the HFEA is expected to give Newcastle a licence to carry out the procedure. |
| The first attempt could take place this year, which could lead to the first birth in 2016. | The first attempt could take place this year, which could lead to the first birth in 2016. |