Researchers Bid to Screen Embryos for Cancer, by Ben Mitchell, PA News.
Scientists in the UK are preparing to seek permission to screen embryos for genes that lead to breast and bowel cancer to enable parents to prevent placing their children at risk of the diseases, it emerged today.
“If someone has the gene, they have a high risk of having bowel cancer.The whole idea is to select the embryo that doesn’t have the gene so the woman can start their pregnancy knowing the baby is safe.”
The founder of Core (Comment on Reproductive Ethics), said: “By the time these embryos have reached the age when they are at risk of breast cancer, medical science will have advanced by 30 years and we may even have a cure.“What we are doing here is getting away from the concept of curing disease and towards eliminating the person with the disease.”
But defending the proposed process….(they) said it was an extension of the IVF treatment which had become part of mainstream medicine.
He said: “If we have a family that has a genetic make-up that is pre-disposed to cancer, with current technology, it is not unreasonable to run the idea with the patient and let them decide. “I disagree with Mickey Mouse people saying it is meddling with nature, it is simply a selection process to try to get rid of these genetic diseases.”
The “Core” comment is wrong. Following that train of thought, we wouldn’t have antibiotics to assist in infections. It’s a choice, and the affected couples should make their own decisions.
ATF