3 parent babies Flashcards
how is mtDNA inherited
through the maternal line
what does mtDNA determine
it does not determine your physical characteristics but provides power house of cell
what is mitochondrial disease
when mitochondria is unable to do its job properly and therefore the tissues don’t work as well because cells don’t have enough energy. this can lead to organ failure. mitochondrial disease is caused by mutations in either nuclear or mitochondrial DNA. depending on type of mutation alters the symptoms and which age they are present
symptoms of mitochondrial disease
blindness, deafness, dementia, stroke and major organ failure. sometimes death - no cure for this disorder
options available for women with faulty mitochondria
they can not have children, adopt, use a donor egg, have prenatal diagnosis or preimplantation genetic diagnosis. however last 2 options not approbate for women with more severe mutations therefore 2 new treatments proposed
what are the 2 new treatments
uses mitochondria replacement. replace fault mtDNA with healthy mtDNA using healthy donor egg.
explain the process of mitochondrial replacement
1st type = maternal spindle transfer. remove spindle from donors egg and replace it with spindle from mother egg (spindle is chromosomes making up nuclear DNA) = unaffected child
2nd type= pronuclear transfer. fertilise both healthy donor egg and mothers egg with sperm. once embryos developed the pronucleus is removed from donor egg and replaced by that of mothers embryo
what are some ethical issues linked to this
who does the baby belong/ who has rights over it. could lead to designer babies. also don’t know what effect it might have in later life if its still at the beginning of research. may be life threatening
what are some ethical issues linked to this
who does the baby belong/ who has rights over it. could lead to designer babies. also don’t know what effect it might have in later life if its still at the beginning of research. may be life threatening
