A license has been awarded to fertility watchdog the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, giving doctors the go-ahead to check embryos for a rare type of eye cancer. Sufferers of retinoblastoma who have previously passed the gene on to their children can now prevent any further children from contracting the disease.

Opponents of the ruling argue, that this type of screening should be reserved for non-curable illness. Retinoblastoma can be successfully treated with chemotherapy. Only a few days ago the government began a public consultation about future fertility treatment and embryo research.

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