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| Structure of human eggs. Mitochondria lie outside the nucleus, containing their own DNA. If this DNA is faulty, the child will inherit a disease. A new technique will take the nucleus (which has been fertilized) from an egg with faulty mitochondria and transfer it into an egg from another woman with healthy mitochondria. The resulting embryo will not have faulty mitochondria. |
A research team from Newcastle University will transfer the nuclear material—the nucleus of the zygote formed from the sperm and egg of one woman—into the unfertilized egg of another woman.
This technique aims to prevent the transmission of disease-causing genes from the first mother’s mitochondria to the child (whom she will not directly give birth to).
Mitochondria are tiny, complex structures located outside the nucleus, found in all body cells except red blood cells. They are responsible for producing the energy necessary for our survival and growth. A unique feature of mitochondria is that they contain their own DNA—known as mitochondrial DNA—which is passed down from mother to child.
If this DNA is faulty, a mitochondrial-related disease may occur. Currently, science has yet to find solutions to these diseases.
Studies on mice have shown that it is possible to prevent the transmission of defective mitochondria from mother to child by separating the nucleus from a fertilized egg with faulty mitochondria and transferring it into a healthy unfertilized egg (from another female).
Professor Doug Turnbull of Newcastle University and his colleagues are now set to conduct this technique in humans, aiming to replace defective mitochondria with healthy ones.
However, the “two-mother” embryos are not permitted to develop into babies. Researchers continue to debate this issue.
Professor John Burn, also from Newcastle University, emphasizes that the new experiment will not lead to “designer babies.” “From a philosophical and medical standpoint, there is no reason why we shouldn’t do this,” he stated. “I use a metaphor similar to changing the batteries in a radio to explain what we are doing. You are not replacing the entire radio; you are merely refreshing the power source.”
“If a baby is born using this technique, it will resemble its biological parents more than the woman who provided the healthy egg, as traits such as hair color, height, and personality are determined by the nuclear DNA, not mitochondrial DNA.”
However, ethicists remain concerned about this project. Meanwhile, American scientists at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science in St. Barnabas, New Jersey, announced in 2001 that they successfully performed a similar technique, resulting in the birth of 15 healthy babies who did not appear to inherit their mother’s condition.
T. An (according to ABConline, LiveScience)
