Beware the intersection of science and politics

Home Opinion Beware the intersection of science and politics

Recently, there have been many instances of politics intersecting with the institution of the family. Between the Supreme Court’s imminent ruling on gay marriage and the controversies regarding provision for contraceptives in Obamacare, we are facing critical confrontation on the topics of marriage and reproduction.

Those who follow the developments in these fields may also have noticed the recent debates in Parliament regarding embryonic mitochondrial therapy. A quick perusal of search engine results will yield headlines such as BBC’s “MPs say yes to three-person babies” and CNN’s “UK lawmakers approve ‘3-parent babies’ law.”

Despite these black-and-white headlines, the issue is hardly that simple — many of the overgeneralized headlines and news briefs can easily lead readers to misconceptions about the issue. An investigation beyond the sensationalized 10-word titles will show that the topic is hardly as clear-cut as the top results would make it seem.

To begin, it is important to understand the role of the mitochondria to comprehend the real impact of this technique. Mitochondria, present in nearly all body cells, generate energy for critical cell processes. They also contain a small set of DNA which primarily codes for mitochondrial components. Due to the manner in which reproductive cells form, mitochondria (and mitochondrial DNA) are only inherited from the mother, meaning any mitochondrial problems will almost certainly be passed on to her children.

This information becomes crucial in understanding mitochondrial disease and the means of treating it. This sort of illness can have a broad range of effects, including difficult recoveries from common viruses, seizures, and muscle failure. In addition to the wide variety of symptoms, the onset of these problems can begin in utero, or be delayed as late as adulthood. The variety and complexity of mitochondrial disease renders it difficult to diagnose and difficult to generalize into a tidy statistic. However, the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation estimates that 1,000-4,000 children are born yearly with a mitochondrial disease. CNN cites a statistic showing that in the UK, only 1 in 6,500 babies will suffer a shortened lifespan as a result.

The title “3-parent babies law,” referring to the treatment method addressed by Parliament, is itself misleading. The treatment method involves the donation of a healthy mitochondrion for the female sex cell by inserting the mother’s nucleus into the donor’s egg cell, either pre- or post-fertilization. This results in an embryo with the mother’s primary DNA contained in the nucleus, paternal DNA, and healthy mitochondrial DNA from a female donor. Although it is technically true that there are three “parents” who contribute DNA, mitochondrial DNA consists of less than one-fifth of a percent of the human genome. Traits such as the color of eyes, hair, and skin are all determined by the primary mother’s genetic material, along with that of the father. These facts are important to understand when considering critics’ claims that legalizing such a method would serve as a frontrunner for “designer babies.”

The politics and feasibility of this treatment method add another dimension to the issue. Although the bill passed in the House of Commons, it has yet to be approved by the other part of Parliament, the House of Lords. In this sense, to say that “UK lawmakers have approved” the method is partially deceiving, since the legislation has not yet gone through both houses. Furthermore, while some experts have petitioned Parliament in support of the proposition, others have warned against it, and not just for ethical reasons. Many are worried about possible effects. The California-based Center for Genetics and Society, for example, said that “the techniques will in fact put women and children at risk for severe complications, divert resources from promising alternatives and treatments, and set a policy precedent that experimentation on future generations is an acceptable biomedical/fertility development.” It is also notable that the Food and Drug Administration suspended testing for a similar method in the US.

On the whole, an investigation into the complexity of mitochondrial disease and the history of this treatment method provides a clearer picture of what the “3-parent baby law” really entails, much more so than a cursory glance at oversimplified headlines. Whether you support or oppose this legislation, this incident highlights the need for healthy skepticism and investigation into contemporary issues, especially in light of other current events where politics and science overlap.