One of the most prominent supporters of a DNA technique designed to eradicate a range of inherited diseases has angrily condemned Church of England claims that MPs were being rushed into a vote to back the process. Consultation had been exemplary, he claimed.<\/p>\n
Professor Douglas Turnbull, a Newcastle University scientist who works with women affected by mitochondrial disease, warned that this week\u2019s parliamentary vote could be the UK\u2019s last chance to pioneer the technique.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am glad this government has chosen to go ahead with a vote, but I am concerned about how that might play out,\u201d\u009d he says. \u201cA good number of MPs don\u2019t appear to like the idea of mitochondrial transfer. If they vote it down then I think the technology could be lost for ever. We are due a new government and when it comes in, it will have other priorities. We may never get this chance again.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n