Fight genetic diseases: babies are born with the DNA of three people

Babies seem to be able to escape serious illnesses. For example, thanks to genetic manipulation during their design. However, Made in the United Kingdom. Consequently. However. Similarly, this experience could not have taken place in France or the United States, however, due to strict regulation in this area.

Published Wednesday evening in the New England Journal of Medicine. Therefore. Therefore. Additionally, Therefore, a study, eagerly awaited by the scientific community, takes stock of unprecedented experience: around twenty women have received a “donation of mitochondria” in order to avoid transmitting to their child a rare genetic disease.

Mitochondria is a small structure present in our cells and plays an engine role by converting energy nutrients.

In some cases – one in 5000 people – Mitochondria works badly. However, It fight genetic diseases: babies born new therefore causes a fight genetic diseases: babies born new “mitochondrial” disease which can result in various ways. Therefore, often fight genetic diseases: babies born heavy and disabling: vision disorders, diabetes, muscle degeneration.

However, these mitochondria work from special DNA, distinct from the rest of the cell. In addition, The idea of the donation of mitochondria is therefore. In addition. Moreover, Additionally. In addition, just after the design of an embryo, to replace the mitochondrial DNA of the mother with that of another woman. However, All the rest of the genetic material remains that of both parents.

For some commentators. these are “babies to three parents” even if this term. often used by opponents of this procedure. is far from being unanimous among specialists in the subject, who deem it caricatured.

The United Kingdom is a pioneering country in this area: the donation of mitochondria has been authorized there since 2015. fight genetic diseases: babies born new which has enabled the experience whose results have just been fight genetic diseases: babies born new published.

They are, in the opinion of several scientists, very encouraging. Out of twenty patients. eight gave birth fight genetic diseases: babies born to children, now between six months and three years old.

This already shows that the donation of mitochondria allows a viable pregnancy. But, above all, these children were born with a very low rate of compromise mitochondrial DNA. An illustration that the treatment “works to reduce the transmission” of mitochondrial diseases, concludes the study.

Prohibited research

Several precautions are required. First, two children experienced medical complications. The authors believe that it is not linked to the procedure. but some commentators judge that they exclude him a little quickly.

Above all. since their birth. three of the children have already seen their rate of defective mitochondria increase. which raises the question of fight genetic diseases: babies born new the sustainability of the effects.

However. these are “very important. a breakthrough in mitochondrial medicine”. for fight genetic diseases: babies born new the Swedish professor Nils-Göran Larsson, one of the world specialists in the field, in a reaction to the British Media Center.

The fight genetic diseases: babies born fact remains that scientific advance is not the only one to be the. subject of positive comments. This is also the case of the regulation chosen by the United Kingdom. praised by many researchers for having allowed this research while supervising it closely from an ethical point of view.

This choice contrasts with many other countries. In the United States, health authorities have regularly expressed their opposition in recent years. In France. the Biomedicine Public Agency has sought to launch research. but has encountered justice several times when bioethical laws authorize experiences only on embryos of less than two weeks. from fight genetic diseases: babies born new a PMA and doomed to destruction.

The donation of mitochondria poses, in fact, ethical questions. Some observers fear that the procedure. introducing fight genetic diseases: babies born new a dose certainly reduced by DNA of a third person. disturbs the child in the development of his personality.

Above all. criticisms underline that this is a fight genetic diseases: babies born form of genetic manipulation of the embryo. firmly prohibited by certain international conventions.

In addition. out of the British experience. children have been born in recent years of Mitochondria donations in a less restrictive regulatory framework. in Greece or Ukraine, with a sometimes more vague justification as to treat infertility.

“This is the problem of the benefit/risk ratio: for a mitochondrial disease. the benefit is obvious,” said French researcher Julie Steffann, specialist in mitochondrial disease with AFP. “As part of infertility, it is not proven.”

But the ban on research fight genetic diseases: babies born new in France “is regrettable for patients. ” she said, deeming inadequate to see the donation of mitochondria to the creation of a “transgenic” embryo.