In April 2016 the first baby boy, using a new technique that incorporates DNA from three people, was born. This revolutionary yet also controversial technique promises to help children avoid fatal genetic disorders passed down by their mothers. The boy’s mother carries genes for Leigh syndrome, which is a lethal disorder that affects the developing of the central nervous system. While supported by many, others state that mitochondrial donation is a step too far for genetic engineering.
So, what is Leigh syndrome? Leigh syndrome is the most common mitochondrial disease in children (2). It is characterized by the degeneration of the central nervous system (i.e. brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve). The symptoms of the syndrome usually appear between the ages of three months and two years old, but some patients do not show any symptoms until several years later. Symptoms are associated with progressive neurological deterioration and include loss of appetite, vomiting, irritability, and/or seizures. As Leigh syndrome progresses, other symptoms appear, such as general weakness, hypotonia and episodes of lactic acidosis, which may lead to problems of the respiratory system and kidney function. In most cases, Leigh syndrome is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. However, X-linked recessive and maternal, due to a mitochondrial DNA mutation, inheritance are also possible. (2, 6-8)
In this case, the gene was inherited from the mother to her offspring(s) due to a mutation found
In some instances, it is thought that this gene can be passed from the parents, but it
As well as having the ability to alter plant life, this technology is also said to be able to alter or manipulate human genes. Scientists are finding ways to manipulate certain genes to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, as well as depression. In the essay, Richard Hayes writes, “Last year Science magazine reported that a variant of the human 5-HTT gene reduces the risk of depression following stressful experiences” (185). By inserting the variant of that gene into embryos, some babies could have a chance at never experiencing depression. This would be an amazing feat, to be able to give a child a chance to never have to feel the devastating effects depression can have on a person. There are other disorders other than depression that could also be cured from the manipulation of human genes. Many children today are born with autism and Down syndrome. This technology could one day ensure that all babies are born completely healthy with no defects or disorders
The article “Three-parent babies: the argument for and against” written by Sarah Knapton states due the fact that the new technique called mitochondrial transfer can modify slightly the genome of next births, many opinions a favor and against of this method have been raised by ethical concerns. One of the argument a favor to the mitochondrial transfer is that it can benefit more than 2,500 mothers and 150 births a year. How the mitochondrial inheritance is through the mother, the transfer of mitochondria prevents of passing abnormal genes to the next generation in order to avoid mortal diseases, and the mitochondrial DNA is not more than 0.054 percentage without the nucleus of the cell. On the other hands, counter-arguments allege that children
Leigh Syndrome is a rare inherited neurological disease that involves defects in the normal function of the mitochondria. Leigh Syndrome usually appears in the first year of life. This condition involves progressive loss of metal and movement abilities and typically result in death within two to three years. The most common treatment for this disease is thiamine or Vitamin B1. (“Genetics Home Reference”,2012)
children and from the faulty mitochondria from being passed on through the maternal line. Women who carry the mutated mitochondria may lose many children through miscarriages or an early death because of improper workings of organs such as the brain, heart and muscles due to the genetic defect in mitochondria that should provide energy to the cells of the body, but does not (Sample, 2012). Some of the major supporters of this treatment come from the emotionally standpoint of couples who have struggled with giving birth to a healthy child. As noted in the article by Pritchard (2014), a mother who has lost seven children, whether through miscarriages or early deaths, claims that she would have received the mitochondria replacement had it been approved. In contrast, a mother who was able to receive this mitochondria replacement is beyond thankful for the treatment in giving her a healthy daughter who is similar to her cohorts. Another major reason why some people support this treatment is due to the fact that a child born through this procedure will only have a very small amount of the donor’s DNA in their body. There is a very tiny amount of the donor’s DNA because, unlike a cell’s nucleus that holds about 23,000 genes, a cell’s mitochondria only holds a tiny bit of DNA (Sample, 2012). Additionally, the donor’s DNA from their mitochondria has little to do the characteristics of a child born through this treatment since about 0.2% of the complete DNA that makes up the genetic
For an individuals with Leigh's disease their prognosis is poor. Patients that lack mitochondrial complex IV activity and with other people who diaogese with pyruvate dehydrogease defreing have a tendency to worst prognosis and die within few years. Patient having the partial deficiency have better prognosis like 6 to 7 years even mid teenage years. Having this disease as a baby or young children or teen will be difficult for them to make friend or social with people
"If you could ‘design’ your own child, would you?", an article written by Vivek Wadhwa, discusses a research conducted by a team of scientists, led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, of Oregon Health and science University. In this research they discovered that it is possible to safely and efficiently alter defective genes that cause inherited diseases. Vivek Wadhwa is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and a director of research at Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at Duke University.
Born: To inherit this mutated gene it must be present in either the ova or sperm that formed the human. This mutation was in the child’s original cell, so therefore every cell in his body has this mutated
Moyer discusses all the potential operations that genetic engineering can do. She gives an example of Kira Walker, who “had inherited a mutated copy of a gene known as ABCC8 from her father . . . Kinra went into surgery. When she came out three hours later, she was cured” (Moyer). These new innovations are helping improve the lives of thousands of children that are born with genetic diseases or mutations. Not only does it provide the child with the possibility to live their life, it also helps parents save thousands of dollars that would have been spent on medication and extensive care if these disabilities go
According to Critics (2015), “no clinical trial has taken place to shows conclusively that the treatments are safe in humans” (Matt Chorley, para. 35), because it has only been tested on laboratory animals. Will we allow laws to change without a clear picture of the role mitochondrial donation will play in the transfer of hereditary characteristics? I support the critics as they point out the potentially serious problems that might arise once the procedures are truly carried out. These serious problems will affect the health care system today because there is currently no use of genetic medicine to prevent disease. Genetic modification is not like an organ donating due to the implantation of new genes in embryos. Any implantation prior to egg and sperm producing offspring crosses an ethical line for humans. Yet in my knowledge, an organ that is not matched closely enough can be rejected. While the implantation of new DNA in the egg is unpredictable, our duties should stop the procedure and instead study the effects in a clinical trial or on human prior to allowing
In simple terms in order for a person to have the disease both parents must have the trait. If only one parent has the disease there is a chance of the trait being passed on.
The mother and the father must have the defective gene in order for the child to inherit the gene. Most of the time the parents do not realize they are carriers.
When an infant gets diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, we will first retrieve the defective cell(s), and make a copy using microscopic dna editors (technological innovations in the future). Using the copied cell, we will rebuild the mitochondria if necessary, take out defected molecules located in the matrix, and patch up any broken spots. We will also edit some other part of the cell, so that it can undergo cell division very fast and efficiently to take the place of the defective cell. After compiling it all together and injecting it into the body, the person will be cured and will be prevented from other diseases much like
In the article “World’s First Baby Born from New Procedure Using DNA of Three People” by Ian Sample, they show that in counties with proper regulations a new procedure of mitochondrial transfer could give some hope to couples unable to have healthy children. This article shows the process of which scientists went through to eventually have a process that lets women with unhealthy eggs able to have children. The author also explains a different process that was used once in the 1990s’, where they injected cytoplasm from healthy donor eggs into unhealthy donor eggs, but this process causes children to be born with genetic disorders and later the procedure was banned. This article also shows how dangerous it can be to perform the treatment
Louise Brown, the first "test-tube baby", was the first person ever created outside a woman’s body. She was born on July 25, 1978, almost three decades ago, but not without protest. Even though many people were skeptical on this procedure and advancing medical technology she was a healthy, happy infant. “Today in vitro fertilization (IVF) is often the unremarkable choice of tens of thousands of infertile couples.” (Baird 12). Once considered unethical and unmoral, now is apart of everyday life. Now, genetic modification technology is quickly progressing, but how far should scientists be able to go when manipulating the human genome of embryos? Designer babies, or genetically modified human embryos, now have the possibility of becoming a reality, but do the benefits outweigh the risks and criticism.