Scientists given go-ahead for 'dual mother' embryo

Australian Broadcasting Corporation ^ | 9 September 2005

[Aussie Dasher]

I thought we beat the Nazis...

[DoughtyOne]

Gag!

[conservativewasp]

Look who's God now.

[sgtbono2002]

Yes: If Dr.Mengele were alive today he would be touted as a genius.

[Conservative til I die]

We *are* the Nazis.

[Calpernia]

PING!!

[George W. Bush]

Looks like little Heather will have two mommies.

[mcg1969]

Don't misinterpret what this is, BTW. This embryo would haves a genetic mother and father in the traditional sense. What is going on is that the second mother is "donating" the ooplasm from an egg, replacing the mitochondial DNA. This DNA is always passed from mother to child---the father has no contribution---and in some cases, defects in that DNA can cause disease.

But it's not like this baby, assuming it is successfully born, will acquire any of the physical or mental characteristics of its "second" mother.

I'm not saying there are no ethical issues here, it's just important to get the story right. As far as I know it's a long way to actually creating an egg with two equal mothers and no father.

[stocksthatgoup]

No Men Need Apply.

[Clara Lou]

I'm not generally given to such pronunciations, but my opinion is that this is utterly diabolical.

[mlo]

I'm not generally given to such pronunciations, but my opinion is that this is utterly diabolical.

Why?

[SERKIT]

Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOUILD!

[conservative blonde]

I totally agree with your opinion.

[Ichneumon]

No Men Need Apply.

Actually read the article, then try again.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Something tells me that God will have the final say in this, not men:

Isaiah 44:24&25

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:
"I am the LORD, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,
who frustrates the signs of liars
and makes fools of diviners,
who turns wise men back
and makes their knowledge foolish,

[Ichneumon]

Something tells me that God will have the final say in this, not men:

Where in the Bible does it say that we shouldn't cure diseases?

[Clara Lou]

It's more unnatural than homosexuality. However, I don't think homosexuality is a choice [for most], but this is a choice. What's the purpose of it? To see if it can be done? It's not right.

[hispanichoosier]

Don't misinterpret what this is, BTW. This embryo would haves a genetic mother and father in the traditional sense. What is going on is that the second mother is "donating" the ooplasm from an egg, replacing the mitochondial DNA.

Good point. The child would still have 23 pairs of chromosomes from 1 father and 1 mother, the true parents. The donor of the ooplasm is no more a mother in the genetic sense than a surrogate mother would be.

Note that the researchers plan to kill the developing child before he or she reaches a stage that may appear "too human" to the general public.

[Petronski]

THEY are the Nazis.

[Aussie Dasher]

I'm sure there is something in the Bible about not killing...