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14 April 2010
The new procedure, announced today and published in the journal Nature, in which scientists at Newcastle University have transferred DNA between two human eggs, is very concerning to the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics (SCHB) from an ethical perspective.
Indeed, the SCHB is of the opinion that though this procedure may be considered by parents in order to have a child 'of their own', they may end up having to share their child with the person providing the egg.
This is because one of the main definitions of a biological parent is a person who has participated in creating the life of a child. Not just who provided the DNA or genetic heritage. Indeed, an egg (even if it has been emptied of its chromosomes) is a very special cell that creates life. It is completely unlike any other cell.
In this regard, Dr. Calum MacKellar, Director of Research of the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics has indicated that "You cannot just reduce a parent to the DNA provider since the definition of a biological parent is a person who participated in creating the life of a child" adding "in this case there are actually three biological parents who would all have special bonds with the prospective child. It is 'who creates whom' that matters for the eventual parent-child bond, not the manner in which the child was created".
The SCHB is also concerned that the procedure would deliberately be creating confusion for the future child relating to the manner in which he or she understands who his or her biological parents are.
Dr. MacKellar indicated, in this regard, that "the procedure has not been sufficiently thought through from an ethical perspective" adding "the future child and the egg donor mother, who participated in creating this child, may eventually want to have a parent-child relationship."