The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is considering a relaxation of regulations governing so-called designer babies so that parents could screen IVF embryos for genetic traits and use them as donor siblings.

The authority is debating whether parents should be allowed to test embryos solely for “desirable characteristics” and not just for genes that cause devastating illnesses at a young age, such as cystic fibrosis. Pressure from parents and fertility experts has forced the HFEA to review its position after criticism that the rules allow some parents to use IVF screening to help their children while banning others from doing so. The HFEA will meet on Wednesday to discuss the new rules.

If the proposed regulations are approved, it would permit IVF screening techniques to create babies whose umbilical cord blood could save the life of a sick sibling.

Mohammed Taranissi, a leading fertility doctor, who was invited by the authority to submit a test case licence application, said last night: “I have been told informally that they (the HFEA) are very likely to change their minds.”

Dr Taranissi has applied for permission to screen embryos created during IVF so that the child of a couple he is treating will be able to be a recipient from a sibling for a blood disorder called Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, which needs a transplant of stem cells from a matching donor.

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