Dr Kathy Niakan has applied to the HFEA for permission to genetically modify human embryos. She plans to use 20-30 donated embryos to conduct research that she claims could affect which human embryos are chosen for IVF.
This kind of genetic modification is legal in the UK, but it has never been tried here before. Other countries have banned genetic modification of embryos because of numerous ethical issues, including the potential for 'designer babies'.
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Related Coverage:
Kathy Niakan: Scientist makes case to edit embryos (BBC)