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Articles

The Use of Embryos

Elizabeth Hemsley considers ethical arguments for and against a new embryo modification procedure.

A recent decision by the UK government to amend its Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (HFEA) to allow for a procedure called mitochondrial donation was preceded by vigorous debate, as is usual in bioethical issues. The procedure was lauded by some as a triumph for scientific progress, while for others, it has raised the spectre of genetic engineering and so-called ‘designer babies’.

The case in favour of the procedure is easily expressed. Mitochondria, which exist in almost all cells in the body, are the biological mechanisms in cells responsible for converting food into energy. If mitochondria are defective, they are unable to provide sufficient energy for cells to function.

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