MPs will vote soon on a new gene therapy to stop incurable diseases passing to babies ending fears the Government is ducking the controversy. <\/p>\n
The health minister threw her weight behind a DNA-altering procedure pioneered by a team at Newcastle University, saying: This is something I want to take forward. <\/p>\n
Jane Ellison told a parliamentary inquiry: I am now actively seeking cross-Government approval for parliamentary time in this session to bring regulations before the House. <\/p>\n
Im extremely conscious that there are real families waiting on progress on this work. We need to keep up the momentum. <\/p>\n
The comments are a huge boost to the Newcastle team, which has called for legislation as soon as possible, because of the number of patients waiting for treatment. <\/p>\n
Also appearing before the Commons science select committee, the teams Professor Doug Turnbull said the worst-affected babies died within 24 or 48 hours. <\/p>\n
He said most diseases develop in childhood, or adolescence, adding: We can do a lot to help with epilepsy and diabetes, but there is no cure. <\/p>\n
And, on the gene therapy, This sort of approach to try to present a transmission of these sorts of diseases - would be really important. <\/p>\n
The treatment involves replacing faulty mitochondria responsible for inherited diseases, including muscle wasting, heart problems, vision loss, organ failure and epilepsy. <\/p>\n
Embryos are given healthy DNA from donor eggs, meaning a baby has the DNA of three people from two parents, plus less than one per cent from the donor. <\/p>\n
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MPs to vote 'soon' on new gene therapy - pioneered by Newcastle University team<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MPs will vote soon on a new gene therapy to stop incurable diseases passing to babies ending fears the Government is ducking the controversy. The health minister threw her weight behind a DNA-altering procedure pioneered by a team at Newcastle University, saying: This is something I want to take forward. Continue reading