Human Fertilisation and Embryology

Part of Living Wage (Reporting) – in the House of Commons at 2:29 pm on 3 February 2015.

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Photo of Fiona Bruce Fiona Bruce Conservative, Congleton 2:29, 3 February 2015

What we are talking about is a particular process, which we know—with certainty—will destroy embryos. That is what I am addressing. As I say, this technique will involve the permanent alteration of the human genetic code. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics, which was cited by the shadow Minister in support of her arguments, says that these techniques are

“a form of germline gene therapy.”

This alteration will be passed down generations. The implications of this simply cannot be predicted. However, one thing is for sure: as someone has said, once this alteration has taken place and once the genie is out of the bottle, and once these procedures that we are being asked to authorise today go ahead, there will be no going back for society, and certainly not for the individuals concerned.