Here we go...
February 5, 2008 6:21 PM Subscribe
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.
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.
have succeeded in creating a human embryo from three parents.
sadly, it came too late to breed an UberStooge.
posted by jonmc at 6:26 PM on February 5, 2008 [12 favorites]
sadly, it came too late to breed an UberStooge.
posted by jonmc at 6:26 PM on February 5, 2008 [12 favorites]
Jeebus, as if most folks didn't have enough problems with two...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:31 PM on February 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:31 PM on February 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
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!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:33 PM on February 5, 2008
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!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:33 PM on February 5, 2008
Dear Penthouse Forum
I never thought this would happen to me, but last week I was at Newcastle University in Britain...
posted by DU at 6:37 PM on February 5, 2008 [9 favorites]
I never thought this would happen to me, but last week I was at Newcastle University in Britain...
posted by DU at 6:37 PM on February 5, 2008 [9 favorites]
It seems like this would be more likely to increase risks of genetic defects rather than decrease them.
posted by mikeo2 at 6:46 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by mikeo2 at 6:46 PM on February 5, 2008
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.
posted by nanojath at 6:49 PM on February 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by nanojath at 6:49 PM on February 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wait... Sting and those other two are still alive. Good lord, we've got to stop this biotechnology NOW!
Soitanly!
posted by jonmc at 6:58 PM on February 5, 2008
Soitanly!
posted by jonmc at 6:58 PM on February 5, 2008
Ah- woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:59 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:59 PM on February 5, 2008
Heather has two mommies?
posted by jenkinsEar at 7:02 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by jenkinsEar at 7:02 PM on February 5, 2008
Heeeey! Whadja do that for?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:05 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:05 PM on February 5, 2008
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.
posted by Floydd at 7:05 PM on February 5, 2008
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.
posted by Floydd at 7:05 PM on February 5, 2008
Seriously, jonmc, you poke me in the eyes again and I'm gonna tell both my mommies on you!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:06 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:06 PM on February 5, 2008
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"
posted by jonmc at 7:09 PM on February 5, 2008
*and it is weird to see scrolling captions reading "[slap] nyuk-nyuk-nyuk"
posted by jonmc at 7:09 PM on February 5, 2008
This reminds me of the Jonathan Coulton song "Betty and Me."
posted by spiderwire at 8:00 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by spiderwire at 8:00 PM on February 5, 2008
Jennifer has two mommies... and a daddy!
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:09 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:09 PM on February 5, 2008
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
posted by Smedleyman at 9:09 PM on February 5, 2008
"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
posted by Smedleyman at 9:09 PM on February 5, 2008
Nanojath has it. There aren't 3 parents. There are two parents with somebody else's mitochondrial DNA in the embryo's mitochondria.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:04 PM on February 5, 2008
posted by Ironmouth at 10:04 PM on February 5, 2008
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.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:26 PM on February 5, 2008
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.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:26 PM on February 5, 2008
More like let the gametes begin, amirite?
I am so, so sorry.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:50 PM on February 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
I am so, so sorry.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:50 PM on February 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
DISGUSTING. GOD CREATED ADAM AND EVE. NOT MADAM AND ADAM AND EVE.
posted by seanyboy at 12:10 AM on February 6, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by seanyboy at 12:10 AM on February 6, 2008 [3 favorites]
So was there a cookie involved in this process somehow?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:24 AM on February 6, 2008
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:24 AM on February 6, 2008
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!"
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:58 AM on February 6, 2008
"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!"
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:58 AM on February 6, 2008
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!
posted by agregoli at 6:53 AM on February 6, 2008
posted by agregoli at 6:53 AM on February 6, 2008
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.
posted by Goofyy at 8:02 AM on February 7, 2008
posted by Goofyy at 8:02 AM on February 7, 2008
« Older S.H.A.D.O. supreme headquarters | All Across the Universe Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by krash2fast at 6:23 PM on February 5, 2008