Mitochondrial donation is a new IVF-based method that gives people with faulty mitochondrial DNA the chance to have children who are genetically related to them without passing on the faulty DNA.
- The process involves removing the nuclear DNA from an egg donated by a person carrying faulty mitochondrial DNA and inserting it into an egg donated by someone who does not carry faulty mitochondrial DNA.
Mitochondrial disease (or Mito)
- Mitochondrial disease (or Mito) refers to a group of disorders that affect the mitochondria, which are tiny compartments that are present in almost every cell of the body. The mitochondria’s main function is to produce energy organs need to function properly.
- Mito can have many different forms, each of which has the potential to disrupt one or more organs and lead to organ failure. Mito cannot be cured.
- The new IVF procedure or mitochondrial donation gives families affected by certain forms of mito hope that they can have children who are genetically related to them without mito.
- There are two kinds of mitochondrial disease. One is brought by faulty genes in the nuclear DNA, which is what makes us who we are and is passed down from one parent to the other. The other is brought on by faulty genes in the DNA of the mitochondria.
- Mito caused by faulty mitochondrial DNA is passed down through the mother.
