Ever wondered how life would be if you had three parents?
The UK is on its way to becoming the first country that allows a new technique of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) using DNA from three people, which is essentially the creation of a 'three-parent' baby. While critics say such a move can lead to a demand in 'designer babies', IVF experts in the city feel it is high time that India follow in the country's footsteps to at least get an IVF law in place in the country.
How does the 3-parent technique work?
Mitochondrial diseases are inherited from the mother. This type of IVF treatment will ensure that an affected woman does not pass it on the foetus. Through this procedure, nuclear genetic material from a mother's embryo is transferred into the donor embryo. This way, the new embryo will contain nuclear DNA from the mother and father, while the mitochondrial DNA will be from the donor embryo. The mitochondrial DNA will be lesser than the nuclear DNA, therefore it won't affect the baby's characteristics and features.
How is it beneficial to the baby?
UK lawmakers on Tuesday approved a law that allows this procedure to be used as it can prevent mitochondrial diseases from passing on from the mother to the foetus. Mitochondrial disorders include health problems like heart and liver disease, respiratory issues, blindness and muscular dystrophy.
Dr Nandita Palshetkar, IVF expert, Lilavati Hospital said, "A mitochondrial disorder is inherited from the mother. The new technique will help an affected woman have a baby without passing on a mitochondrial disease, which can in turn cause more than 200 diseases and contribute to others such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's."
What do Indian experts have to say about this?
Health experts say that with a very large population and high birth rate, and consanguineous marriage favoured in many communities, there is a high prevalence of genetic disorders in India. Mumbai IVF experts hope that when a law on IVF is implemented in India, it will also include progressive thinking that will benefit patients.
Welcoming the move by UK, Dr Duru Shah, IVF expert director of Gynaecworld Assisted Fertility Centre said, "The decision by the UK is a huge step forward in empowering women. It will allow a woman who is at a risk of transmitting mitochondrial disease to her child to have a baby free of the disease."
How does IVF work in India if there are no laws?
Talking about the necessity for IVF laws in India, Dr Shah said that the process has many areas that require regulation and monitoring. "If there is no law, people follow any methodology. In India, we are still waiting for a IVF law. So far we have Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines that are followed by reputed IVF centres. It is high time we had law in place," he added.
Dr Bipin Pandit, IVF expert and member of the Maharashtra Medical Council said, "The decision by UK is a very progressive move. We are waiting for the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Bill 2014 to be tabled and passed in parliament soon."
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