A new IVF technique combines DNA from a mother, father, and a healthy donor, resulting in eight healthy babies born in the UK. This procedure targets mitochondrial diseases, which affect one in 5,000 births and have significant health implications. The successful trial included 22 women at Newcastle Fertility Centre, with eight live births resulting in significantly reduced mutated mitochondrial DNA levels in most cases. While promising, the procedure remains controversial and is not approved in many countries due to ethical concerns surrounding embryo use and potential for designer babies.
The IVF technique uses DNA from the mother's egg, the father's sperm, and a small amount from a healthy donor's egg, resulting in eight healthy births.
Genetic diseases affecting one in 5,000 births can cause symptoms like vision loss and muscle wasting, but the new procedure offers hope with mitochondrial DNA from donors.
The technique has led to eight healthy babies born from 22 women treated, reducing mutated mitochondrial DNA significantly in most cases to below disease-causing levels.
Despite success in the UK, the procedure remains controversial and not approved in many countries due to ethical concerns regarding embryo destruction and designer baby fears.
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