Comments on: Here we go...

Here we go...

krash2fast — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:21:17 -0800

Well, it seems that some British scientists have succeeded in creating a human embryo from three parents. Oh, let the games begin...

I should point out that the "third parent" is an egg donor, and the egg only contributes to mitochondrial dna, but I am sure that the fundies will jump on this in a cocaine heartbeat.

By: krash2fast

krash2fast — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:23:42 -0800

yes, I know it's just a one-link FPP. But it's interesting. So there!

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:25:41 -0800

Strange days ahead.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:26:38 -0800

have succeeded in creating a human embryo from three parents. sadly, it came too late to breed an UberStooge.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:31:22 -0800

Jeebus, as if most folks didn't have enough problems with two...

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:32:18 -0800

sadly, it came too late to breed an UberStooge. Unfortunately, the last 7 years of U.S. history disagree with that statement.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:33:46 -0800

sadly, it came too late to breed an UberStooge. Fortunately, it came too late to breed an UberPolice. Wait... Sting and those other two are still alive. Good lord, we've got to stop this biotechnology NOW!

By: DU

DU — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:37:33 -0800

Dear Penthouse Forum I never thought this would happen to me, but last week I was at Newcastle University in Britain...

By: mikeo2

mikeo2 — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:46:09 -0800

It seems like this would be more likely to increase risks of genetic defects rather than decrease them.

By: nanojath

nanojath — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:49:49 -0800

Reading the article, I can only see this as fundamentally positive. It has the potential to eradicate a whole class of inherited disease, and really from the scary science side it's sort of mild. The third "parent" is only providing mitochondria - which are sort of a genetic closed system, this is not going to affect any of the genetically inherited traits (except those of the mitochondria themselves - aside from working properly, this is not going to change how the new individual develops). Although occurring on a more fundamental level, this is more equivalent to transplanting an organ. You don't think of that kidney recipient as some scary new 2-human hybrid.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:58:51 -0800

Wait... Sting and those other two are still alive. Good lord, we've got to stop this biotechnology NOW! Soitanly!

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:59:58 -0800

Ah- woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:02:09 -0800

Was one of the Stooges secretly a woman in disguise? Which one?

By: jenkinsEar

jenkinsEar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:02:38 -0800

Heather has two mommies?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:03:04 -0800

*pokes flapjax in eyes*

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:03:25 -0800

Burhanistan, leave a tender moment alone.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:05:14 -0800

Heeeey! Whadja do that for?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:05:41 -0800

Shaddap!

By: Floydd

Floydd — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:05:47 -0800

You mustn't think you've failed me Just because there's someone else You were the first real love I ever had And all the things I ever said I swear they still are true For no one else can have the part of me I gave to you Torn between two mothers, feelin' like a fool Lovin' both of you is breakin' all the rules Torn between two mothers, feelin' like a fool Lovin' you both is breakin' all the rules.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:06:37 -0800

Seriously, jonmc, you poke me in the eyes again and I'm gonna tell both my mommies on you!

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:09:40 -0800

Minor tangent: I was once in a bar watching a ballgame. The sound was off and the captioning was on. There was a rain delay and they filled the time with some old Three Stooges shorts. The captioning continued* just so we didn't miss any subtle nuances of dialogue. *and it is weird to see scrolling captions reading "[slap] nyuk-nyuk-nyuk"

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:23:09 -0800

Nine parents...? why I oughta... [via]

By: spiderwire

spiderwire — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:00:46 -0800

This reminds me of the Jonathan Coulton song "Betty and Me."

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:09:23 -0800

Jennifer has two mommies... and a daddy!

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:09:13 -0800

I'm less worried about the fundies than I am the insurance companies and Monsanto. "There is only one nature - the division into science and engineering is a human imposition, not a natural one. Indeed, the division is a human failure; it reflects our limited capacity to comprehend the whole." - Bill Wulf

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:04:37 -0800

Nanojath has it. There aren't 3 parents. There are two parents with somebody else's mitochondrial DNA in the embryo's mitochondria.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:26:03 -0800

There aren't 3 parents. Since mitochondrial DNA is maternally derived anyway (through "natural" sexual reproduction) it is not hyperbole to say there are "three" parents. Indeed, it is scarily accurate. You have genomic DNA from parents A and B, and mitochondrial DNA from the egg donor (parent C). If the embryo develops to term and is female, her offspring will receive mitochondrial DNA from parent C, and somatic and germ alleles from parents A and B.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:50:15 -0800

More like let the gametes begin, amirite? I am so, so sorry.

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:10:37 -0800

DISGUSTING. GOD CREATED ADAM AND EVE. NOT MADAM AND ADAM AND EVE.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:24:40 -0800

So was there a cookie involved in this process somehow?

By: Brandon Blatcher

Brandon Blatcher — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:58:50 -0800

Yeah, but what is the egg was brought to term and then adopted? That makes 5 parents. "I don't know, go ask your father." "Which one?" "For christ's sake, the donor, can't you see I'm busy here?" "My other moms never treat me like, I hate you!"

By: edd

edd — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:16:01 -0800

mikeo2 - why do you say that?

By: agregoli

agregoli — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:53:14 -0800

Wow. Exciting and complicated science here. The legal rammifications are extreme - I, too, am thinking about adoption, as well as surrogacy in combination with this. Cool article, thanks!

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:01:49 -0800

Progress report shows clinical application of technique still far away.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:02:18 -0800

So, what's to stop them from using DNA from 2 men, to implant in a donated egg? I like that idea, a lot. Nice way to become a Gay parent, for sure.