Mitochondrial Donation Treatment (MDT)

Context: 

A baby was born using three persons’ DNA in the UK caused the stir that news of this kind was expected to evoke. 

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: 

• • 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