Designer babies 'to end diseases'

by DAVID FISHER, Metro

Babies could be designed free of some hereditary diseases using a revolutionary technique. Two patents for the new genetic method have been taken out by fertility expert Lord Winston, presenter of the BBC series The Human Body, after research in London.

He believes that changing the fundamental blueprint of fathers' sperm cells before conception could eliminate conditions such as cystic fibrosis in children. Altered genes could also be implanted in animals so they grew organs suitable for human transplants.

The technique could be carried out in Britain, which only bans genetic modification of human cells once a woman's eggs are fertilised.

About 7,000 Britons suffer from cystic fibrosis, a condition which clogs the lungs with mucus. Few sufferers survive beyond their 30s without a transplant.

The NHS is also badly short of donor organs - 4,500 patients are waiting for kidneys and 700 for livers, hearts and lungs.

However, the proposals were attacked by Dr Caroline Dryden of the campaign group Genewatch. She said: 'This is completely immoral. This technology is changing reproductive cells and modifying the human species.'

And Dr David King, of the Campaign Against Human Genetic Engineering, said anything that altered human DNA was dangerous.

He added: 'This technique exploits a loophole in the law which should have been closed up. It will end up as an expensive technology for those who can afford it, increasing the gap between the rich and the poor.'

Mark Barron, of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, gave the technique a guarded welcome. He said: 'It sounds very interesting, but any development like this needs to be treated with caution.'

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