Watchdog approves screening extension

BRITAIN’S fertility watchdog has approved the extension of embryo gene screening.

IVF clinics will be able to offer tests to couples with a family history of breast, ovarian and a type of colon cancer.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) had only permitted screening for inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Disability campaigners fear the possibility of pre-natal selection.

The HFEA issues licences permitting clinics to use pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), where a cell from a three-day old embryo is tested. Ten clinics are currently allowed to use PGD to test for inherited conditions where carrying a faulty gene guarantees the resulting child will have the illness.

The HFEA’s decision also means PGD can be used to check for the breast and ovarian cancer “susceptibility” genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, and the colon cancer gene HNPCC.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 carries have an 80% risk of developing breast cancer. HNPCC carriers have an 80% colon cancer risk. BRCA1 carriers have a 40% risk of developing ovarian cancer.

HFEA chairperson Suzi Leather said: “The decision deals only with serious genetic conditions that we have a single gene test for. We would not consider mild conditions — like asthma and eczema — which can be well-managed in medical practice. We would not consider conditions like schizophrenia.”

But Josephine Quintavalle of the group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, has said: “PGD is currently ... aimed at the ruthless elimination of any embryo which does not conform to eugenic concepts of perfection.”