A team of scientists in Newcastle has achieved a major breakthrough in treating mitochondrial disease by genetically engineering healthy babies through a form of genetic modification. The UK’s pioneering approach is being hailed as a game-changer for families affected by this devastating disorder, which affects one in 5,000 people.
Mitochondrial disease occurs when the mitochondria, tiny energy-producing structures within cells, fail due to genetic mutations. This can lead to severe symptoms such as muscle weakness, epilepsy, blindness, and hearing loss. There is currently no cure, but prevention through IVF and pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) holds promise.
The Newcastle Fertility Centre has been granted a licence to use this technology, which involves combining an egg from the mother with a donor egg, with 99.9% of the resulting baby’s DNA coming from the parents. The process is often misunderstood as creating “three-parent children,” but it’s actually just a composite embryo.
The success of this approach has sparked debate, particularly around concerns about human germline genetic modification and potential long-term consequences for future generations. However, critics must acknowledge the groundbreaking work carried out by Newcastle scientists, who have brought hope to families affected by mitochondrial disease. The technology remains experimental, but its potential benefits make it essential to continue, with caution and careful oversight.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/20/the-guardian-view-on-mitochondrial-donation-ivf-innovation-leads-to-a-cautious-genetic-triumph