The UK has moved closer to becoming the first country to allow the creation of babies from three people.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised the government that there is no evidence the advanced forms of IVF were unsafe.

The fertility regulator's public consultation also showed "general support" for the idea as the benefits outweighed the risks.

It is like taking two fried eggs and switching the yolks.

There are too many people on the planet anyway. Unless we're breeding a race of super humans with telepathy, telekinesis or the ability to fly (I'll take keen detection skills at a push) I'm not quite so interested.

My only real concern is how any child will cope with being called "a freak".

Unless people were told, how would they know?

It's unlikely to be successfully kept secret from the child and everyone she meets at school. The truth usually comes out in the end.

You make it sound like something they should be ashamed of. Why would it need to be 'a secret'? There are thousands of people in the UK and probably millions of people throughout the world that exist because of IVF and similar techniques. How on earth is there any stigma about it?

Yes, the child may get teased at school. This will be an experience completely unique to it, and won't happen to any other children in their class that might happen to be short. or tall. or fat. or thin. or wear glasses. or have ginger hair. or have a second name that sounds somewhat like a rude word.

Jon

It's unlikely to be successfully kept secret from the child and everyone she meets at school. The truth usually comes out in the end.

In other words, people will be told so they will know.

IVF costs the NHS so much IMO it should be entirely privately funded. It's not a life-limiting/impairing disease. For example, cataracts can cause visual problems and surgery can allow patients to continue living their lives. But being childless doesn't stop you from carrying on with daily activities. IMO IVF falls into the same boat as cosmetic surgery.

Having said that, I'm more opposed for IVF for couples where one already has children. There have been cases where the female partner has had children, each from different partners all done via IVF. Compare that to where you have those who struggle to even have one child.

There are too many people. In particular, too many poor people who have many children despite not being able to feed even them. Maybe they should all be sterilised, since that would massively reduce suffering and death. As would forced sterilisation of all known carriers of genetic disease.

I find it's best not to cast judgement over who should and shouldn't have children. It upsets people, no matter how sound the logic.

Personally I find it quite interesting from a purely scientific point of view. The cost of this procedure is less than cancer treatment, and far less common, so it's pretty insignificant on the grand scale of things. My only real concern is how any child will cope with being called "a freak".