Human Fertilisation and Embryology

Part of Living Wage (Reporting) – in the House of Commons at 3:09 pm on 3 February 2015.

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Photo of Fiona Bruce Fiona Bruce Conservative, Congleton 3:09, 3 February 2015

I want to pick up on the point the hon. Lady makes about mitochondria not affecting characteristics. The Government’s own consultation document acknowledged that diverse characteristics are associated with mitochondria, including learning disabilities, neurological problems and dementia, and that every person’s symptoms are different. Is there not an insurmountable contradiction in saying that this is just like changing a battery if on the one hand one is saying that the aim is to prevent damage to those characteristics, but on the other hand one is saying that the techniques will not affect them at all?