Numerical identity: the creation of tri-parental embryos to correct inherited mitochondrial disease.
Inherited mitochondrial disorders affect between 1 in 5000 to 1 in 8000 people. These are a heterogeneous group of maternally-inherited disorders, with an array of outcomes such as heart and liver failure, defects in energy metabolism, blindness, deafness, loss of motor skills and premature death. Recently the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority provided advice to the UK Government to permit the use of enucleated donated oocytes with normal (wild-type) mitochondria (a currently prohibited IVF technique) to be used as recipients of nuclear DNA from intending mothers to overcome transmission of mitochondrial disorders. In this short communication we present the basis for this radical new IVF technology, and discuss the implications for its use both in the context of treating a group of inherited disorders and the current New Zealand IVF legislation.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Mike.legge@otago.ac.nz.
Michael
M
Legge
Ruth
R
Fitzgerald
D003219:Confidentiality; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009520:New Zealand; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D011247:Pregnancy; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014019:Tissue Donors
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial