In the modern world it is quite unusual to have three biological parents, but this could just be a matter of time.In the UK, a research group have been experimenting to try and create an embryo which is linked to three individuals, biologically. Surprisingly, this is not the first time that researchers have tried to create three parent embryos. In the 90s, a genetically modified human was created from adding a section of a woman’s egg into another. This was initially done help prevent infertility, but was quickly banned by the US Food and Drug Administration.
To this day, researchers are certain that by replacing the faulty mitochondria in the eggs of women with the healthy ones of another female it can help prevent future children from inheriting diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and deafness. As a consequence, the resulting children would have nuclear genes from the couple and mitochondria DNA from the other ‘mother’. The reason another female’s mitochondria is used is due to the fact that mitochondria’s can only be transferred through the mother. Males do contain many mitochondria in their sperm, but they are destroyed once it enters the egg.
Mitochondria do not only affect common and rare diseases, but it can also affect one’s sporting ability, longevity, intelligence and so forth. This means that we can also have the power of creating designer babies with traits stereotyped by the public. Not only will it be a highly debated topic, but it can so have a big consequence in other traits. This is evident in Japan, when the mitochondrial group measured the highest intelligence, but they were extremely likely to have a heart disease. However, researchers believe that they can minimise these consequences by choosing females who have a high mitochondria compatibility with the nucleus of the female whom has a faulty mitochondria. By choosing compatible mitochondria, it would decrease possible inherited dangers through this method.
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Reference: Lane, N. (2008). Genetically modified humans: Here and more coming soon. Available: http://www.newscientist.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/article/mg19826591.700-genetically-modified-humans-here-and-more-coming-soon.html. Last accessed 6 September 2009.
IMAGE: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/05/embryo_wideweb__470x338,0.jpg
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Kylie Poon (42043593)
