The US may approve a technique to create a 3-parent child

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently received an offer from these national scientists, to provide experimental approval for a medical therapy called Alternative Mitochondria (MRT), which can prevent the most dangerous genetic diseases for babies. Once approved in the UK, but this technique may take a long time to be applicable in the US. More and more diseases appear in people, some cause serious disability or death in children, which is related to gene mutations in mitochondria - cells that produce energy in cells, possess layers double membrane and has its own genome. Replacing faulty mitochondria in eggs or embryos, from healthy donors can help prevent these diseases.

The specific replacement process is as follows: scientists will replace damaged mitochondrial DNA of a mother with mitochondria of a healthy woman, in an egg, then combine with healthy sperm strong to create the best embryo, eventually implanted into the mother. That is also the reason why people call these babies born because of this technique of "3 parents" children. Because of the above benefits, the American Institute of Medicine has spoken out for the FDA to put it into use soon. Another thing to note is that the MRT can only be done if the child is a boy. This requirement is designed to ensure the safety of the next generation, in case of unforeseen consequences.

In the short term, the MRT can only be applied if the baby is a boy.(Photo: Newscientist).

"I think you have made the right decision," said Alison Murdoch of the University of Newcastle (UK), along with the team developing an affirmative mitochondrial treatment. "This will help achieve the goals we are trying to accomplish." It can be said that MRT technology is a form of genetic modification, because a small part of the DNA children created in this way will come from donors. In the United States, there may be 17 donated mitochondrial donors, thanks to a technique used to promote the success of IVF, in 1997-2002, before being subject to FDA approval. greeting and blocking. If the FDA "green light" for new ideas, donor mitochondria will be used to prevent children from inheriting serious diseases, but the gender of the embryo needs to be determined.

Reasons why mitochondrial replacement (MRT) is not approved

According to Douglas Turnbull of the Center for Mitochondrial Research in the UK, this approach has been carefully considered when Britain made the final decision. There are several main reasons why MRT was rejected.

First , it reduces at least half of a woman's chance of getting pregnant, because no female embryo involved can be used. To determine the sex of the embryo, the need to do is to remove a cell to conduct the test. This is thought to be able to reduce the chances of successful pregnancy, because embryos were then subjected to many effects to replace mitochondria. "You never want to do anything to the embryo if you don't really need it , " Murdoch said. The last problem is that it takes about 20-30 years before any child is created with a donor body ready to have their own child.