Despite safety concerns, the parliamentary debate is expected to take place within the next few weeks

Mitochondrial donation could be legalised within the next few weeks, according to the Department of Health.

Scientists in Britain have said that mitochondrial donation could be carried out this year if legislation is passed, although the US Food and Drug Administration has said it will take at least two years before the necessary clinical trials are conducted in the United States. Despite safety concerns, the parliamentary debate is expected to take place within the next few weeks. [4 January, The Independent]

Mitochondrial donation involves the attempt to avoid a woman passing on mitochondrial disease by combining and destroying two embryos to produce a third embryo, or alternatively by combining unfertilised eggs from two women to create a third egg which is then fertilised to create an IVF embryo.

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