<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="crosshead">DNA-ngerous</h2>

The Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre is, in short, a human factory. Babies are grown in test tubes, with their lives decided for them before they are even born. Some will be privileged, but the rest will live a life of near-slavery.

Of course, this is only fiction. It sets the scene for the society of Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World.

When Huxley wrote Brave New World in 1931, he was describing a dystopiaThe opposite of utopia (an imaginary vision of a perfect world). The term dystopia comes from Greek and literally means bad place. that did not exist in real life. Now, the dilemmas confronted in the book are becoming a reality.

On Tuesday, the fertility regulator confirmed that Britain's first three-parent baby had been born using a new technique designed to stop children being born with mitochondrial diseases.

DefectiveNot working. mitochondriaSmall organs within nearly all types of human cell that generate much of the cell's energy. Often called the 'powerhouse of the cell'. are passed down through mothers, and are incurable. Affecting one in every 6,000 babies, mitochondrial disorders can be fatal within hours of birth.

In the procedure, mitochondria are taken from a healthy donor's egg and combined with the sperm and egg of the two main biological parents.

Since mitochondria carry a small amount of genetic material, the embryo carries DNADeoxyribonucleic acid is the material in an organism that carries genetic information. from the mother, father and donor.¹

Although the UK Department of Health insists that the techniques do not fall under "genetic modification", a number of leading scientists disagree.

Babies who have their genetic makeup altered to remove genes which cause disease are referred to as "designer babies". Some believe that "editing" human embryosAn unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development. in any way will open the floodgates for parents to "design" their ideal baby before birth, which would be deeply unethical.

But others say it would be unethical to turn down a treatment which could prevent mitochondrial disorders. They think we should do anything we can to prevent suffering.

Yes: We have crossed the point of no return. Many prominent scientists see this technique as a form of genetic engineering. The decision to legalise the technique could open the floodgates for eugenicsThe idea that human beings should be improved through genetic engineering. In the past, eugenics has generally involved killing people who are deemed "inferior". and designer babies.

No: We should make the health of babies our first priority. This technique could allow mothers who carry defective mitochondria to have healthy children, preventing suffering and heartache. It would be unethical to refuse to use this technique.

Or... The UK Department of Health has excluded Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy from its definition of genetic engineering, which means although we are getting closer to crossing the line, we have not crossed it yet. We should keep it that way.

Dystopia - The opposite of utopia (an imaginary vision of a perfect world). The term dystopia comes from Greek and literally means bad place.

Defective - Not working.

Mitochondria - Small organs within nearly all types of human cell that generate much of the cell's energy. Often called the 'powerhouse of the cell'.

DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid is the material in an organism that carries genetic information.

Embryos - An unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development.

Eugenics - The idea that human beings should be improved through genetic engineering. In the past, eugenics has generally involved killing people who are deemed "inferior".