The challenges of mitochondrial replacement.

Patrick F Chinnery,James B Stewart,Mary Herbert,Douglass M Turnbull,Shoukhrat Mitalipov,Lyndsey Craven,David R Thorburn

doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1004315

Abstract

The challenges of mitochondrial replacement.

Highlights

Mitochondrial DNA diseases are both common and, in their severest forms, devastating [2]
Preimplantation or prenatal diagnosis may be helpful [4,5], but for other women, these techniques will not result in diseasefree offspring and the only options available are either oocyte donation or mitochondrial replacement at the oocyte or zygote stage
In the United Kingdom, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) recently considered the safety issues after extensive expert and public consultation [9]. This independent group of scientists reviewed all the evidence and concluded that mitochondrial replacement techniques have the potential to be used for patients with mitochondrial DNA disease, further experiments are required before introduction into clinical practice, to provide further reassurance with respect to efficiency and safety

Summary

Introduction

Mitochondrial DNA diseases are both common and, in their severest forms, devastating [2]. Mitochondrial DNA diseases are transmitted maternally, and for families carrying these mutations, a major, and justifiable, desire is to have unaffected children. This independent group of scientists reviewed all the evidence and concluded that mitochondrial replacement techniques have the potential to be used for patients with mitochondrial DNA disease, further experiments are required before introduction into clinical practice, to provide further reassurance with respect to efficiency and safety.

Results

Conclusion