Britain to start consultation on draft rules allowing embryos made from DNA of 2 women, 1 man

LONDON – Britain is starting a public consultation on rules that would allow scientists to create embryos using DNA from three people — one man and two women — to prevent mothers from passing on potentially fatal genetic diseases.

In a statement Thursday, Britain’s department of health said the consultation is intended “to gather views about the draft regulations from all those with an interest.”

British law currently forbids altering a human egg or embryo before transferring it into a woman, and such treatments are only allowed for research. Last year, the country’s fertility regulator said it found broad public support for the new techniques.

Experts say the technology would likely only be used in about a dozen British women every year. Critics have slammed it as a breach of medical ethics.