A Romanian couple living in the UK are parents to the first baby in Europe born after a radical new treatment designed to eliminate genetic disorders.

Romanians Gabriel and Carmen Neagu were the first couple in the UK selected to receive a new genetic treatment known as karyomapping at a London clinic, according to British media.

This technique allowed clinicians to select genetically healthy embryos which they then implanted to the mother’s womb. Carmen Neagu has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects peripheral nerves and muscles, and was told that she had a 50% chance of passing the condition to her children. The procedure helped the mother eliminate the risk of passing her genetic condition to her child.

The clinicians have also eliminated some 200 other potential genetic diseases, including Down’s syndrome.

The baby, who is now five months old, is perfectly healthy.

Read more about the new karyomapping technique here.

editor@romania-insider.com

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