Eight babies in the UK were born using DNA from three people through an IVF technique that isn't legal in the U.S. NYU professor Arthur Caplan joins "CBS Mornings Plus" to explain the science and ethical concerns.

Recent scientific advances have made it possible to alter or select certain genetic traits in embryos before birth, with some techniques now being used to prevent rare, potentially deadly diseases. In the UK, eight babies have been born using an experimental IVF method that incorporates mitochondrial DNA from a third donor, a procedure not currently legal in the US due to regulatory restrictions on genetic modification of embryos.

While embryo screening for specific diseases is legal and commonly practiced in the US, new technologies are emerging that claim to identify a wider range of traits, prompting ethical debates about the potential for 'designer babies.' Experts caution that the science is not yet advanced enough to reliably predict or select for complex traits, and emphasize the importance of considering the broader societal implications as these technologies develop.

The science and ethics behind genetic embryo screening

being able to change or select particular genetics of a person before they're born is no longer science fiction and New developments show that it could be a life-saving reality for some families also opens the door to all kinds of ethical questions Which we'll get into here the details earlier this week We told you about eight healthy babies born in the UK who had the DNA of three different people Done using an experimental IVF technique not legal in the US, which we'll also talk about. Here's how it works though in addition to the mother's egg and the father's sperm a Donor a third a second woman supplies a strand of healthy mitochondria Makes up less than 1% of that baby's DNA But that is enough researchers say to prevent mutations that lead to potentially deadly rare diseases So back to the questions here ethically if you're wondering why it's not legal here in the US It's because our Food and Drug Administration enforces a ban on research that involves genetically Modifying the embryos, which is what that is however in this country It is legal to screen embryos before selecting which ones to use for IVF and for years families undergoing IVF have used screenings to identify embryos with certain types of Single cell mutations linked to diseases like Down syndrome or cystic fibrosis but now some Silicon Valley based startups are leaning into embryo screenings and Pitching testing that they say can identify a wider variety of traits and potential Abnormalities that raises the ethical question of are we gonna have a super generation of babies? Ethically selected to be a certain way. Can we do that? Should we do that to break it all down is the exact right person professor of medical ethics at New York University Arthur Kaplan professor Kaplan. Thank you very much for being here By all means take issue or expand on that introduction, but please also help me understand with this case in the UK What it tells us about where the guidelines or parameters should be as we think about what we should do Beyond what we're capable of doing Hi Tony Adriana, thanks for having me. Well, there's a lot going on in this area, but let's just look back at this Therapeutic procedure that was reported out of the UK with the three parent babies Think of an embryo as a donut and inside the donut hole is where all of the DNA resides that makes us who we are whether it's Hulk Hogan's appearance or Somebody who's going to be tall or short or skin color. It's all in that donut hole except for one tiny Speck of DNA Which is the battery pack? Every cell needs energy can't do anything can't divide can't grow can't go from embryo to person If it doesn't have if you will electricity, that's what got transplanted in the UK It's not the traits that if you will make us who we are. It's the energy cell It's like moving a battery in a toy where the battery is run out It doesn't really change the nature of the toy what they change was putting in a new battery Letting the toy functions that make sense Yeah, it does professor, but then it also raises the question if we can do this now in the not-too-distant future We might be able to make a child taller or have a fuller head of hair or you name it Well, yes, however, not yet the mitochondria experiments pretty primitive It's pointing towards saying we could genetically engineer or change Embryos or as you pointed out without even changing them Maybe screen them just do genetic tests pull a cell off the embryo at an early stage Analyze its DNA. The problem right now is there's too much hype. We're not really there yet on the science side. We don't know exactly what the contribution is of many genes to making you tall or smart or Athletic or whatever it might be a violinist whatever it might be and we do know Every parent knows this same parents same genes coming in to have a family Kids turn out very differently, right even though a lot of genetic commonality. So environment and what you eat and things that can happen Accidentally diseases they shape who we are too. Are we gonna head down that road? That's the question and the good news is this little mitochondria experiment is an early warning signal to say We want to restrict this we better do so now now it is illegal as you pointed out Tony in the US even to do this Primitive mitochondrial transplant, which I think is wrong. I think that line is in the wrong place But down the road, do we really want wealthier people saying? Yeah, I'll make a perfect baby and a smarter baby and give that kid a tremendous advantage over others Professor Kaplan, I really appreciate this conversation. It is early. Not everything is possible yet But as we move closer, you're gonna be in demand as someone to help us think about What diseases we can't live with and then what issues we'd prefer not to live with and whether or not we play God And determining that what it is. So, thank you very much There were some cute babies in the back you can see in the window. Oh, we missed them. Yes Thank you very much professor we'll have you back again soon

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