Context:
A baby was born using three persons’ DNA in the UK caused the stir that news of this kind was expected to evoke.
Probable Question:
What is mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT)? Explain the scientific process behind it and its significance in preventing mitochondrial diseases. |
Image Source: Daily Mail
More on News:
- The baby has three parents, deriving the mitochondria from a donor apart from genetic material (DNA) from biological parents.
- Significance:
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- Prevent the child from inheriting the mother’s mitochondrial disease.
Mitochondrial Disease:
- Mitochondria are basically the powerhouses of the cells, they generate the energy, and thus are also responsible for cell function in the human body.
- Mitochondrial diseases are caused by defects in the way mitochondria produce energy for the body’s cells, particularly in energy-hungry tissues like the brain, nerves, muscles, kidneys, heart, and liver.
- These mutations can impact cell function, leading to a range of symptoms and health issues.
Three-Person DNA:
- The mother had a mitochondrial disease she did not want to pass on to her baby.
- The baby carries most of its DNA from its parents and a minor percentage from a donor.
- Mitochondrial DNA from the donor was used while fertilizing the egg to prevent passing on the mitochondrial disease.
Scientific Process for Mitochondrial Donation Treatment (MDT):
- Mitochondrial diseases are only passed on by the mother.
- Technique used: In vitro fertilization (IVF) technique developed by Newcastle Fertility Clinic.
- Biological father’s sperm used to fertilize eggs from biological mother and a third female donor with clear mitochondria, separately.
- Then, Nuclear genetic material from donor’s egg removed and replaced with genetic material from biological parents.
- Resulting egg has genetic material from parents and mitochondria from female donor.
- Egg implanted in uterus and carried to full term to yield a baby free from mother’s mitochondrial disease.
- This process is called Mitochondrial Donation Treatment (MDT).
News Source: The Hindu
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