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Genetic advance raises IVF hopes | Genetic advance raises IVF hopes |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Researchers have found a potential way to correct an inherited disorder affecting thousands of women. | Researchers have found a potential way to correct an inherited disorder affecting thousands of women. |
Working on monkeys, they transferred genetic material needed to create a baby from a defective egg to a healthy one, resulting in healthy births. | Working on monkeys, they transferred genetic material needed to create a baby from a defective egg to a healthy one, resulting in healthy births. |
The US work, featured in the journal Nature, raises hopes of a treatment enabling women with defective eggs to have a child without using donor eggs. | The US work, featured in the journal Nature, raises hopes of a treatment enabling women with defective eggs to have a child without using donor eggs. |
However, the child would have a small number of genes from a "third parent". | However, the child would have a small number of genes from a "third parent". |
It is estimated that every 30 minutes a child is born with this devastating disease and I believe we could prevent that Dr Shoukhrat MitalipovOregon Health and Science University | It is estimated that every 30 minutes a child is born with this devastating disease and I believe we could prevent that Dr Shoukhrat MitalipovOregon Health and Science University |
The treatment would involve so-called "germ line" genetic changes which would be passed down through generations. | The treatment would involve so-called "germ line" genetic changes which would be passed down through generations. |
The genetic fault is contained in structures in the egg called the mitochondria, which are involved in maintaining the egg's internal processes. | The genetic fault is contained in structures in the egg called the mitochondria, which are involved in maintaining the egg's internal processes. |
If an egg with faulty mitochondria is fertilised the resulting child could have any of hundreds of different diseases including anaemia, dementia, hypertension and a range of neurological disorders. | If an egg with faulty mitochondria is fertilised the resulting child could have any of hundreds of different diseases including anaemia, dementia, hypertension and a range of neurological disorders. |
Previous failures | Previous failures |
US researchers have previously tried and failed to correct this defect by adding healthy donated mitochondria into the eggs of patients wishing to have children. | US researchers have previously tried and failed to correct this defect by adding healthy donated mitochondria into the eggs of patients wishing to have children. |
The fact that treatment effects would persist for generations means ethical debate is needed, as well as more safety tests Dr Helen WallaceGeneWatch | The fact that treatment effects would persist for generations means ethical debate is needed, as well as more safety tests Dr Helen WallaceGeneWatch |
But these attempts resulted in birth defects - probably because mitochondria are so delicate that they are damaged when they are transplanted from one egg to another. | But these attempts resulted in birth defects - probably because mitochondria are so delicate that they are damaged when they are transplanted from one egg to another. |
As a result, the treatment was banned by the US until it could be demonstrated that it was safe in animal experiments. | As a result, the treatment was banned by the US until it could be demonstrated that it was safe in animal experiments. |
A group at the Oregon Health and Science University has now done just that. | A group at the Oregon Health and Science University has now done just that. |
They transferred the DNA needed to make a baby out of monkey eggs, leaving behind the potentially diseased genes in the mitochondria. | They transferred the DNA needed to make a baby out of monkey eggs, leaving behind the potentially diseased genes in the mitochondria. |
This was transplanted it into eggs emptied of DNA but containing healthy mitochondria. | This was transplanted it into eggs emptied of DNA but containing healthy mitochondria. |
The technique resulted in three healthy births with no sign of any birth defects. | The technique resulted in three healthy births with no sign of any birth defects. |
Mixed response | Mixed response |
Lead researcher Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov believes the technology is now ready to be tried out on human patients. | Lead researcher Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov believes the technology is now ready to be tried out on human patients. |
He said: "It is estimated that every 30 minutes a child is born with this devastating disease and I believe we could prevent that." | He said: "It is estimated that every 30 minutes a child is born with this devastating disease and I believe we could prevent that." |
Dr Mitalipov has applied for a research licence to work with human eggs and embryos, and hopes to work with patients soon. | Dr Mitalipov has applied for a research licence to work with human eggs and embryos, and hopes to work with patients soon. |
He said: "Moving to human trials could be very quick, maybe within two to three years. | He said: "Moving to human trials could be very quick, maybe within two to three years. |
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
"This type of gene therapy is much closer to clinical application than anything else before." | "This type of gene therapy is much closer to clinical application than anything else before." |
The development has been welcomed by Professor Peter Braude, an IVF specialist at Guys and St Thomas's hospital. | The development has been welcomed by Professor Peter Braude, an IVF specialist at Guys and St Thomas's hospital. |
He said: "It is a very nice approach that could potentially help thousands of women with mitochondrial disease." | He said: "It is a very nice approach that could potentially help thousands of women with mitochondrial disease." |
But some groups have expressed concern that this method involves making a genetic change to an egg that can be passed down through generations. | But some groups have expressed concern that this method involves making a genetic change to an egg that can be passed down through generations. |
Dr Helen Wallace, of the campaign group GeneWatch, said: "The fact that treatment effects would persist for generations means ethical debate is needed, as well as more safety tests." | Dr Helen Wallace, of the campaign group GeneWatch, said: "The fact that treatment effects would persist for generations means ethical debate is needed, as well as more safety tests." |
But according to Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, of the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill London, people should not worry unduly over the germ-line alterations. | But according to Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, of the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill London, people should not worry unduly over the germ-line alterations. |
He said: "Mitochondria do not confer any human-specific qualities. | He said: "Mitochondria do not confer any human-specific qualities. |
"It would be similar to changing the bacteria in our intestines, which I suspect no one would care about. | "It would be similar to changing the bacteria in our intestines, which I suspect no one would care about. |
"Altering the nuclear genome is a different matter. As it would be difficult and risky there would have to be very good reasons for doing this." | "Altering the nuclear genome is a different matter. As it would be difficult and risky there would have to be very good reasons for doing this." |
In the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has licensed a number of tightly-controlled research projects into mitochondrial diseases. | In the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has licensed a number of tightly-controlled research projects into mitochondrial diseases. |
But Parliament would have to change the law to allow the technique to be used on patients. | But Parliament would have to change the law to allow the technique to be used on patients. |