Abnormal embryonic cells may develop into healthy babies, say Cambridge scientists

Published: April 1st, 2016

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- Abortion
- Bioethics

The detection of abnormal cells in an unborn child does not necessarily indicate that the child will be born with a birth defect, scientists have discovered.

New research has shown that abnormal cells are often killed and replaced by healthy cells, repairing the embryo.

The discovery was made after Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, of the University of Cambridge, gave birth to a healthy baby, despite an earlier test showing that a quarter of cells in the developing embryo were abnormal and could lead to conditions such as Down's Syndrome.

When her baby boy, Simon, was born completely healthy, she was inspired to research how cells in the unborn child could repair themselves.

Healthy cells replaced abnormal cells

Professor Zernicka-Goetz took a chorionic villius sampling (CVS) test whilst pregnant, which showed that a quarter of the cells in the placenta were abnormal. Genetic diseases such as Down's Syndrome can be detected in the placenta.

CVS testing takes place at an early stage in the pregnancy - between 11-14 weeks.

After the birth of her son, Professor Zernicka-Goentz and her colleagues studied mouse embryos with a mixture of 50 per cent normal cells and 50 per cent abnormal – known as 'mosaic' embryos.

The study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, showed that abnormal cells were eliminated and replaced by healthy cells, repairing - and in many cases completely fixing - the embryo.

'Amazing ability to correct itself'

The NHS Choices website states: "There’s no cure for most of the conditions CVS finds, so you'll need to consider your options carefully" – indicating that some women may wish to abort their child.

Yet Professor Zernicka-Goetz's study now suggests that this information is inaccurate.

"The embryo has an amazing ability to correct itself,” she commented.

"We found that even when half of the cells in the early-stage embryo are abnormal, the embryo can fully repair itself.

"If this is the case in humans too, it will mean that even when early indications suggest a child might have a birth defect because there are some, but importantly not all abnormal cells in its embryonic body, this isn't necessarily the case."

9 in 10 women choose to abort babies with Down's Syndrome

Non-invasive pre-natal testing (NIPT) has recently been approved in the UK as an alternative screening method. Similarly to CVS testing, it is offered between 10-14 weeks of pregnancy, it can detect Down's Syndrome by analysing fragments of the baby's DNA in the mother's blood.

Christian Concern has responded to a consultation on the use of NIPT, highlighting how this may lead to a further 92 babies being aborted a year, on the basis of Down's Syndrome.

A slightly later test is available to women between 15 and 20 weeks, called amniocentesis. This test involves analysing cells found in the amniotic fluid and is considered to be more accurate than CVS testing.

Sadly, 9 in 10 women who are told that their child may be born with Down's Syndrome choose to abort.

'Value in every precious and God-given life'

Commenting on Professor Zernicka-Goentz's study, Chief Executive of Christian Concern Andrea Williams said that added to the tragedy of children aborted because of their condition, is now the concern that women are being given inaccurate information.

"We know that many children who are born with Down's Syndrome go on to lead fulfilling and happy lives and bring joy to those around them. There is value in every precious and God-given life.

"Yet these findings present another strong case against abortion. We are seeing here that information provided to women from early testing can prove to be inaccurate later on as God has designed our bodies with the ability to repair themselves."

Babies with genetic conditions protected in Indiana

In contrast to the way that Down's Syndrome is considered in the UK, the U.S state of Indiana passed a law last week prohibiting mothers to abort babies on the basis of Down's and other genetic conditions, as well as race, ancestry or gender.

Governor Mike Pence said he believes this to be a "comprehensive pro-life measure that affirms the value of all human life."

Indiana is now the second state, after North Dakota, to implement such a law.