World’s first test-tube baby gives backing to gene editing
THE world’s first test-tube baby has backed the genetic editing of human embryos to cure disease, arguing that people also condemned IVF when it was first attempted.
Ahead of her 40th birthday tomorrow, Louise Mullinder [née Brown] was speaking at the Science Museum in London, which is launching a new exhibition on the history of assisted reproduction.
Around eight million babies have been born through IVF since Mrs Mullinder became the first in July 1978 and last week a review by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics concluded that it may be “morally permissible” to genetically edit test-tube babies to free them of inherited diseases.
“If it is for health reasons, I completely agree,” said Mrs Mullinder. “People condemned what they were doing when I was born and you just need to trust in the doctors to take it as far as it needs to go.
“I mean obviously you always get some people trying to take it further, but I think you need to trust the medical councils to say what they can do and what they can’t do.”
Mrs Mullinder also described how she first found out that she was born through IVF.
“My parents sat me down when I was four and told me and showed me the footage,” she said. “I was more mortified because you see me as a baby being picked out of my mum, and it’s weird to think that was you. You don’t really know where babies come from at that age, anyway, then when you get to school and you learn the sex education bit it all sort clicks in and you go aaaah. I get it. It’s very odd and very weird.
“I knew that I was different and kids can be quite cruel, but I never had any problems.”