Source: HT
Context: A baby has been born in the UK using a technique called mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT) (popularly called ‘Three Parents Baby’), which involves using the DNA of three people in an effort to prevent children from inheriting incurable diseases.
Working:
The procedure combines the sperm and eggs from the biological parents with mitochondria from a donor’s eggs. Harmful mutations in mitochondria, which are inherited only from the mother, can affect all the children a woman has. As of now, the technique is still in its experimental stage.
Approximately 1 in 5,000-10,000 children are born each year with mitochondrial disease. Concerns: Development of designer babies, dilutes parenthood, costly in nature etc.
