DNA breakthrough may halt inherited
british scientists have mastered a cloning technology to stop children from inheriting severe diseases under the condition of having three biological parents, according to the reuters reports thursday.
newcastle university scientists have grown human embryos after merging dna from two fertilised eggs, winning a groundbreaking progress in the fight against vicious inherited diseases.
lead researcher doug turnbull of newcastle university said on wednesday he hoped the first babies free from so-called mitochondrial diseases would be born within three years.
mitochondria, handed down in maternal dna, are tiny bean-shaped components that provide a cell with energy. around one in 6,500 children are born with serious diseases caused by malfunctioning mitochondrial dna.
"a child born using this method would have correctly functioning mitochondria, but in every other respect would get all their genetic information from their father and mother," turnbull said.
however, applying the technique in the clinic still face regulatory barriers. in britain, it is illegal to place embryos created this way into a womb.
source: xinhua/agencies
newcastle university scientists have grown human embryos after merging dna from two fertilised eggs, winning a groundbreaking progress in the fight against vicious inherited diseases.
lead researcher doug turnbull of newcastle university said on wednesday he hoped the first babies free from so-called mitochondrial diseases would be born within three years.
mitochondria, handed down in maternal dna, are tiny bean-shaped components that provide a cell with energy. around one in 6,500 children are born with serious diseases caused by malfunctioning mitochondrial dna.
"a child born using this method would have correctly functioning mitochondria, but in every other respect would get all their genetic information from their father and mother," turnbull said.
however, applying the technique in the clinic still face regulatory barriers. in britain, it is illegal to place embryos created this way into a womb.
source: xinhua/agencies