Context:

Eight healthy babies have been born in Britain using an innovative technique that incorporates DNA from three individuals to prevent the transmission of rare genetic diseases. This method involves transferring the nuclear DNA from a mother's egg or embryo into a donor egg with healthy mitochondria, which contains a small amount of DNA. The technique, requiring legal approval in the UK since 2016, results in embryos with genetic material from the mother, father, and donor, and is also permitted in Australia but not the US due to regulatory restrictions. Researchers at Newcastle University and Monash University report that this approach was successful in creating disease-free babies, though it is intended only for women for whom other genetic testing methods are ineffective. While some experts celebrate this as a scientific breakthrough, others caution about potential unknown effects on future generations, highlighting ongoing ethical and policy debates.

Dive Deeper:

• The technique uses DNA from three people—a mother, a father, and a donor with healthy mitochondria—to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases, which can cause severe health issues like muscle weakness and organ failure.

• This method involves inserting a mother's nuclear DNA into a donor egg that contains healthy mitochondria but has had its nucleus removed, minimizing the risk of mitochondrial diseases in children born from this process.

• Approved in the UK since 2016 and also allowed in Australia, this technique is not permitted in the US due to concerns over heritable genetic modifications and their long-term effects on future generations.

• The research, conducted by experts at Newcastle University and Monash University, resulted in eight babies born free of mitochondrial diseases, marking a significant advancement in reproductive technology.

• Despite the method's promise, it is used selectively for women who cannot rely on conventional genetic testing, as the donor's genetic material constitutes less than 1% of the resulting child's DNA, ensuring no donor traits are passed on.

• Critics express concern over the potentially unknown impacts of this technique on future generations, referencing ongoing debates about the ethics and safety of modifying human embryos.

• Advocates like Liz Curtis, who lost her daughter to a mitochondrial disease, support this innovation as it offers hope to families facing similar genetic challenges, underscoring the importance of continued research and awareness.