19th June 2003
DESIGNER BABY BORN IN UK
A British couple who travelled abroad for genetic treatment to have a designer baby have had a baby boy.
Michelle and Jayson Whitaker, from Derbyshire, wanted to have a genetically matched designer baby to help their four-year-old son Charlie, who suffers from a rare and potentially fatal form of anaemia. The condition can only be cured by a transplant of stem cells with a perfect tissue match.
The couple applied to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in 2002 to have a special form of IVF treatment where embryos are selected to match older siblings, but the HFEA refused their request on technical grounds. Instead, they went to a clinic in Chicago to have the test tube baby.
The baby, called Jamie, was born at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield this week, and is believed to be only the second baby born in Britain as the result of the tissue matching procedure.
Stem cells have been collected from his umbilical cord and are now being tested to see if they match, and to check to see if the boy has the same medical condition as his brother.
Where to next?- Chat to other couples on the Trying for a baby forum
- Read our essential information about trying for a baby
- Find out more about fertility, in our fertility guide
- Get answers to your top ten fertility questions
- Fancy a chat? Visit the Your Shout discussion forum