Scientists at Newcastle University and NHS Foundation Trust have made history by creating babies free from hereditary diseases using a three-person DNA method. The technique, pioneered over a decade ago, has led to eight children born with no signs of mitochondrial disease, a condition that can cause severe disability and death in infancy.
Mitochondrial disease is typically passed down from mother to child, affecting nearly one in five thousand babies worldwide. To combat this, doctors use the three-person method, combining egg and sperm from parents with healthy mitochondria donated by a second woman. This approach allows children to inherit most of their DNA from parents but also receives a tiny amount from the donor, which is passed down through generations.
The results have shown that five out of eight families have no signs of defective mitochondria in their babies, while three cases had between 5% and 20% of mitochondria that were defective. While this is below the threshold thought to cause disease, further research is needed to understand why this occurred and if it can be prevented.
The breakthrough offers hope to families affected by mitochondrial disease, such as Kat’s family, who have struggled with her daughter Poppy’s condition. The technique has been used on 20-30 babies per year in the UK, providing a chance for parents to prevent devastating diseases from being passed down.
The UK was the first country to introduce laws allowing three-person babies after a vote in Parliament in 2015. While some raised concerns about genetically-modified “designer” babies, experts praise the nation’s pioneering work and support.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8179z199vo