London, England, Apr 15, 2010 / 22:36 pm
Newcastle University experiments that create human embryos from three genetic parents kill and abuse human beings, a British pro-life group has said, reminding researchers that each embryo is “a member of the human family.”
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) responded to scientists at Newcastle University in England who said they created embryos using genetic material from two women and one man to address mitochondrial diseases.
Damaged mitochondria, the “batteries” of the cell, are passed on by the mother. About one in 200 children is born each year with mutations in his or her mitochondrial DNA.
In most cases, this causes only mild disease if any symptoms appear.