Controversial research to go ahead

BRITISH scientists yesterday won permission to create a human embryo that will have genetic material from two mothers.

The Newcastle University team will transfer the pro-nuclei - components of a human embryo nucleus - made by one man and woman into an unfertilised egg from another woman.

The groundbreaking work aims to prevent mothers passing certain genetic diseases to their babies.

Such diseases, known as mitochondrial, arise from DNA found outside the nucleus and are inherited separately from DNA in the nucleus. The mitochondria are the “powerhouse” of the cell, producing most of the energy people need to grow and live.

The organs that require a lot of energy to work properly, such as the brain, heart and kidney, are particularly dependent on well-functioning mitochondria, inherited from the mother.

The diseases can damage the brain, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal muscles and confine sufferers to a wheelchair. At present there is no known cure.

Professor John Burn, from the Department of Clinical Medical Sciences at Newcastle University, stressed the research would not lead to “designer babies.”

The announcement was condemned by some pro-life campaigners.