Thanks to a new technology developed by Pacific Fertility Centre, it is now possible to give birth to babies that are free from genetic disorders and various mitochondrial diseases. What’s more? The new technology makes it possible to have one baby from three biological parents. That’s pretty surprising, isn’t it! Well, this entire new technology is about to get a green-signal in the United Kingdom where majority of people have heartily welcomed this idea. Let’s take a more detailed look at what this technology is all about.
Pacific Fertility Centre has recently announced that they have been able to leverage the new technology to identify embryos which do not have dangerous genetic disorders. The new technology aims at utilizing the DNA from three people to thwart the growth of mitochondrial diseases. Basically, mitochondria reside in the human cells and are considered to be our powerhouse. In case there is any defect in it, mothers face the risk of passing deadly diseases to their embryos.
Now what actually happens here is that there are two female parents ad one male parent. One of the females is one who has an absolutely perfect mitochondrial condition. The other is the one, who is suffering from some kind of mitochondrial disorder, and has the capacity to pass it on to the child. An egg is taken each, from both the women. The DNA of the egg from the healthy woman is isolated and is incubated in the egg of the woman with diseased mitochondria. Thus, the final egg which we get would almost be devoid of the diseased DNA. This egg is implanted in the donor mother. It is then fertilized by a sperm from the male.
As usual, skeptics are doubtful about this new break-through. Many are of the view that the new technology breaches international treaties and paves way for a world consisting of super babies. Time will only tell whether we will be able to see if this innovative technology gets implemented in the real world. People are excited about this new discovery, but it is up to the lawmakers to decide its acceptance and future.
