“Britain is set become the world’s first nation to legally approve “three-person” babies after an historic vote in the House of Commons. Today’s move means that DNA from two women and a man can now be pooled in order to outweigh the odds of an embryo developing mitochondrial disease— where cells unable to generate energy begin closing down altogether—ultimately causing issues including brain damage, muscle wasting, and death.
Fifteen years after it was first proposed, the 1990 Human Fertilization and Embryology Act is on the cusp of amendment. Members of British parliament (MPs) voted 382-128 in favor of updating the regulation, which could take effect on October 29 if approved by the House of Lords next month.
There are currently two techniques being devised, but the procedure—if and when it gets passed—will share the same key aspect: taking the DNA from the parents and combining it with the healthy mitochondria of a female donor. As the structures are solely passed down to offspring through the maternal line, any faulty material would be replaced by another female donor, replacing 0.1 percent of the embryo’s genes. Though scientists say full validation of the process can only come after it has been trialled on a human, signs are positive that it will be successful in providing a major step forward in reducing the number affected by the disease.”
Read more here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/03/uk-courts-say-3-parent-ivf-babies-ok.html
John Iadarola (http://www.twitter.com/jiadarola), Dave Rubin (http://www.twitter.com/rubinreport) and Hannah Cranston (https://twitter.com/hannahcranston_) of The Young Turks discuss.
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Florida, Gay Sex, DNA, Dolphin & Anit-Vaxxers – The Young Turks 2/5/2015 Social Commentary
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTpcK80irdQhYeepMPCTPNVWw5A98fZWT
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