Eight years after the technology was approved in the UK, the first baby was born with DNA from three different people. Like others, babies designed by this method are born from the fertilization of a single sperm in a single egg.
This milestone in medicine is the result of a collaboration between the University of Newcastle and Newcastle Fertility Centre, who were the first to explore a specialized form of fertilization, mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT). In laboratory testing mode (IVF), developed to prevent serious genetic diseases in future children. It is also important to highlight that the United Kingdom was the first country to approve the use of the MRT.
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The difference between babies born from other fertilization methods is nuclear material, which contains most of the genes responsible for making a human being, and a small amount of non-nuclear DNA, responsible for making energy units. Cell, Mitochondria.
- Normally, the mother’s egg provides the embryo with a large number of mitochondria;
- However, in these cases, the donated egg provides a supply of mitochondria;
- At a minimum, only 0.1% of the baby’s DNA comes from the donor.
The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has confirmed that at least five babies have been born with the new technology and 32 patients have consented to the procedure – information about the patients remains confidential.
“The Newcastle team involved in the trials were cautious and wanted to include some follow-up data on the children, as well as protect the families’ privacy,” said Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell biologist and developmental geneticist. Francis Crick in company.
This is a challenge in itself. It will be interesting to know how well the MRD technique works on a practical scale, whether the children survive the mitochondrial disease and whether they are at risk of problems later in life, or if they are girls, their children are at risk. Illness strikes..
Francis Crick
with the information that Scientific alert
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