Eight babies born with DNA from three people using mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) show promising early signs of safety, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. This treatment aims to reduce the chance of mothers passing on fatal mitochondrial mutations.
Researchers at Newcastle University created embryos by replacing the mother’s nucleus with that of a healthy donor egg, resulting in children with traits from both parents but without defective DNA. Five of eight children have no detectable disease-causing mutations, while three had higher rates than expected. However, lead author Bobby McFarland is cautiously optimistic about the treatment’s safety.
Experts agree that close monitoring and regulations are essential to ensure safe use of this technology. The therapy has the potential to provide a path for parents with mitochondrial disease to have healthy biological children. For now, couples who underwent the treatment are overjoyed with their new additions to their families.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/babies-born-three-parent-ivf-look-healthy-so-far-new-study-finds