An ethics debate on 'to be or not to be disabled' - Discussing genetic therapy for children

02/25/2014 - 00:00

Evan Reese

In a recent newsletter, The Center for Genetics and Society (CGS) is asking people to sign a letter they’ve drafted requesting the FDA not approve clinical trials of a genetic therapy which could prevent thousands of children a year here in the U.S. from being born with serious disabilities. So how does that square with their claim to be for the rights of the disabled?

The technology in question is mitochondrial replacement, also known as mitochondrial transfer, in which the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from a donor mother is implanted into the embryo from two other parents; effectively giving the child three parents.

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