Doctors want to screen out embryos with autism

By Sarah-Kate Templeton, Health Correspondent

A team of doctors at one of Britain’s leading hospitals wants to create the country’s first “designer babies” free from autism.

They are preparing an application to the fertility watchdog that would allow them to screen out male embryos to reduce significantly the chance of a couple having an autistic child.

As boys are four times more likely to be born with autism than girls, couples with a family history of the condition want to ensure they have only girls. Such sex selec! tion is not at present permitted.

The technique, called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), has been used to create babies free from life-threatening illnesses such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and haemophilia.

Full article at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2230764,00.html

For information, resources and practical strategies on autism visit:
www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com

www.AutismConcepts.com