Eye cancer is latest frontier in controversial gene research

Efforts to prevent retinoblastoma will be helped by a controversial ruling by the Government's fertility watchdog  that embryos can be screened for the gene which leads to the rare eye cancer.

Last week the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority confirmed that it had approved a licence to test embryos for the childhood cancer. However, campaigners for embryo rights have criticised the ruling, stating that the public has not been properly consulted about the destruction of healthy embryos.

The licence was granted to University College London's assisted conception unit, and the decision has prompted emotive 'designer babies' headlines.

The ruling is more controversial given that retinoblastoma has a 95 per cent survival rate, whereas previous screenings were for incurable illnesses.

University College's Paul Serhal - who has been granted the licence - told The Times (August 19) the decision paves the way for 'a new era in the prevention of disease'.

'It is not a question only of getting the right embryo, but of rooting out a gene that has blighted a family,' he said.
'Patients are able not only to protect their children from harrowing conditions they know from experience, but can also get rid of it from the family line.'

 A spokesman for the HFEA defended the decision.

'We were satisfied that the condition's very early onset and extremely high penetrance provided compelling reasons to issue a licence to use PGD to screen for the disease,' he said.

'It is also worth considering the particularly traumatic treatment options which it would be necessary for the child to go through.'