Genetically selected baby saves the life of his 7 year old brother

Genetically selected baby saves the life of his 7 year old brother
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By h.b. - Mar 13, 2009 - 8:16 PM
The process carried out at the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Sevilla has been a complete success

The happy and healthy family with the general manager of the Virgen del Rocio hospital, Joseba Borroeta - EFE

The mother of a child whose life has been saved thanks to the stem cells from the birth of his brother, who was genetically modified to serve such a purpose, has said ‘Andrés is happy’
The 7 year old boy has now overcome a severe hereditary congenital anaemia, thanks to the blood from Javier Mariscal, his newly born brother.
Doctors say the transplant of the umbilical cord cells has been a complete success.

The family, the parents Soledad and Javier, with both Andrés and Javier, held a press conference in the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Sevilla on Friday.

The couple explained that they had decided not to have another child with the problem, but when the possibility of the Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis arose, they had no doubts, especially as they really wanted another child.
Now Andrés will have a normal life, instead of living just 35 years, the average for someone with what is now his previous condition.

46 other families will be watching the progress of Andrés closely has they have all asked for the same procedure.

It’s the first such case of its type in Spain. Minister for Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, commented that advances have to take their course, and that ethics and radical ideological positions have to be kept outside science.

(Health story)

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