In a groundbreaking advancement in reproductive medicine, the world has welcomed the first babies born using mitochondrial donation therapy (MDT), a technique that allows a child to inherit DNA from three people. The landmark births aim to prevent mothers from passing on rare and often fatal mitochondrial diseases.
MDT works by transferring the nuclear DNA from a mother’s egg into a donor egg that has healthy mitochondria but has had its own nuclear DNA removed. The resulting embryo contains nuclear DNA from the mother and father, and mitochondrial DNA from the donor woman — a tiny fraction of the total DNA but vital for energy production in cells.
The treatment was conducted under strict regulatory oversight in the UK, where the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has approved limited use of the therapy. Though exact numbers have not been publicly disclosed, reports confirm that fewer than five children have been born using the method so far.
Scientists hail this as a historic step toward eradicating inherited mitochondrial disorders, though the ethical debate around the idea of “three-parent babies” continues. Advocates emphasize that the mitochondrial donor contributes less than 0.1% of the baby’s total DNA and does not influence appearance or personality.
This achievement marks a major leap in genetic science and personalized medicine, offering hope to families affected by devastating genetic illnesses.
