Tech: Embryo created from three parents

[dracodraconis]

British researchers were able to create an embryo using the genetic contributions of three parents. The scientists started with a non-viable embryo from one woman, scrubbed it of its mitochondrial DNA, then infused it with the mitochondrial DNA of a second female donor before fertilizing it with sperm cells contributed by a third (obviously male) donor. The embryo was allowed to grow for 10 days to demonstrate it could potentially be viable before it was destroyed. That said, the sperm didn't have to come from a male donor. British scientists have also discovered how to turn bone marrow from a female donor into sperm cells. This may allow lesbian couples to have children, albeit only female children would be produced (due to the lack of a Y-chromosome), and the child runs a significant risk of suffering sever health problems. So far, this research has been limited to experiments with mice. Both articles found on Slashdot.