DNA from three people identified in newborns in the United Kingdom; understand the case

Advances in technology have helped humanity a great deal, especially when it comes to diseases. Tools can now be used to improve people’s quality of life and can even genetically modify an embryo so that it is born without any genetic problems that one of the parents may carry.

Evolution is so great that even the genes of a third person can be attributed in the fertilization process, ensuring health to the fetus, combating possible problems and giving rise to a baby with DNA from three different people.

It may seem like a lie, but this happened recently in the United Kingdom. Check out how this was possible.

Children born with DNA from three different people

This technology is not exactly new, as it was previously done in Mexico in 2016, Ukraine in 2017, and Greece in 2019.

However, this time, in the case of the United Kingdom, there was official confirmation and information was released to The Guardian about this in vitro fertilization.

The method used by the University of Newcastle and Newcastle Fertility Centre was mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT).

In this process, a donor egg is used to produce the baby’s mitochondrial material. This prevents mothers with mitochondrial diseases from passing the dysfunction on to their children, since the female gamete is responsible for supplying DNA for the production of mitochondria, which are cellular energy units.

In this way, only two gametes are used, one egg and one sperm, as in any fertilization and reproduction process.

And if anyone is worried about the child being born with the donor’s characteristics, know that only 0.1% of the gene comes from the donor, so the phenotype (physical characteristics) will not resemble that of the donor.

What to expect in the future?

This genetic modification methodology received approval in the UK before anywhere else in the world.

In turn, the chief executive of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), Peter Thompson, says that the body ensures safe and ethical fertilisation.

It also confirms that less than five children were born using this therapy.

“This is a challenge in itself. It will be interesting to know how well the MRT technique worked in practice, whether the babies are free from mitochondrial disease and whether there is any risk of them developing problems later in life or, if female, whether their children are at risk of contracting the disease.”said Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell biologist not involved in the fertilization cases.

Although it is safe, the confidentiality and privacy of those involved in the procedure are maintained. Follow-ups are still necessary to improve knowledge and give even more confidence in the therapy.