Scientists in the UK have recently developed a new technique for avoiding genetic disability in babies by using the DNA of three people to create an embryo.
This treatment is aimed at women who would pass on a genetic fault as DNA is taken from an additional woman as well as the intended mother, and from a man. The part of the DNA which is faulty would not be used in the creation of an embryo, and this genetic information would be replaced by healthy genes from the additional woman. This means that mothers with disorders could give birth to healthy babies without fear of passing on disease.
This technique may be used to help women who suffer with mitochondria disease. Mitochondria are present in every cell and control the energy which is given to the cells in order for them to function correctly. They are also in charge of new cell formation and cell death. If there is a genetic fault with the mitochondria, that interferes with these functions, it can cause up to 50 different disabilities including blindness, deafness, muscular dystrophy, organ failure, strokes and other disease.
Researchers used 10 severely abnormal embryos in their tests. They removed the nucleus of the embryos - the part which contains the majority of human DNA - and they transferred it to a donor egg which had had most of its genetic material removed, except for the portion which controls mitochondrial production. All of the embryos used in the experiment then began to develop normally but all were destroyed after six days.
Animal studies have shown that babies born via this technique have the physical attributes of the mother and father and not of the donor.
This has given hope to many couples facing the dilemma of hereditary diseases and to disabled support organizations who are in favor of the research. Disability advocates hope that as well as preventing disease it may provide insight into the conditions themselves and possible future treatments for them.
However, pro life groups are opposed to the idea because they say embryo experimentation is unethical, particularly as the embryos have to be destroyed. An amendment to the current Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill has been proposed and has been presented to the British government and if this is approved it would allow treatment for couples with mitochondrial diseases to commence.
Patrick Chinnery, a professor of neurogenetics at Newcastle University, said
'We believe that from this work and the work we have done on other animals that in principle we could develop this technique and offer treatment in the future that will give families some hope of avoiding passing these diseases to their children.'
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