Genetically engineered infants, dubbed the world's first 'three-parent babies', reportedly show no health issues
In a groundbreaking development, a pioneering In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment using mitochondrial donation has been developed, providing a new chance for families at risk of transmitting rare, incurable mitochondrial genetic diseases [1]. This innovative method, which was first allowed in Britain in 2015, has shown significant implications for families who wish to have healthy, genetically related offspring.
The technique, known as pronuclear transfer, has proven effective in drastically reducing the transmission of mitochondrial DNA diseases from mother to baby. Eight babies born through this method showed no signs of mitochondrial disease, and the pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutations in the mothers were either undetectable or at very low levels unlikely to cause disease [1][3][4].
All babies born following mitochondrial donation were healthy at birth and met normal developmental milestones, indicating the procedure's clinical safety and success in creating embryos free from severe mitochondrial defects [1]. Unlike other options such as donor eggs or adoption, mitochondrial replacement therapy allows women with mitochondrial DNA mutations to have biologically related children who carry their nuclear DNA, while replacing diseased mitochondria with healthy ones from a donor. This preserves the maternal genetic lineage with minimal mitochondrial DNA contribution from the donor (less than 1% of total genome) [2][3].
While mitochondrial donation reduces the risk of disease, it is not a risk elimination treatment. There remains a possibility—referred to as "reversal"—that pathogenic mitochondria might persist at low levels and cause health issues. Therefore, extensive counseling for prospective parents is essential to understand this risk reduction rather than outright prevention [2].
For families with mitochondrial diseases—which often lead to severe disability or early death in affected children—this treatment offers a new hope, alleviating previously limited reproductive options [3].
Meanwhile, in other global news, the Chinese yuan is increasingly being used in developing nations in Asia and Africa for trade and investment. Chinese banks are pivoting to yuan-based lending, and an increasing number of African countries are adopting the Chinese currency for their trade dealings [5].
In Europe, German authorities rejected the proposed budget as too large, and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a €1.98 trillion budget [6]. The Commission's proposal will go through protracted negotiations before it is ultimately finalized.
A survey by Gallup found that most people disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of immigration, with 60% expressing disapproval [7]. The percentage of US adults who think immigration is good for the country reached a record 79%, while the share of US adults who want lower immigration fell for the first time in four years [8].
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called on Washington to stop drug traffickers on US territory and halt the flow of weapons across the border [9]. The US reportedly denied South Africa's envoy to Washington a visa [10].
In a separate development, the world's first "three-parent babies" are living healthy lives, marking a significant milestone in the field of genetic engineering and reproductive medicine [11].
References: [1] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01059-4 [2] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30404-0/fulltext [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48714493 [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2193-z [5] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-africa-currency-idUSKBN27D22L [6] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-budget-idUSKBN27D1MU [7] https://www.gallup.com/poll/285240/trump-approval-rating-steady-months.aspx [8] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/17/u-s-public-views-on-immigration-hit-record-high-in-2020-amid-covid-19-pandemic/ [9] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-usa-immigration-idUSKCN2641KM [10] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southafrica-usa-diplomacy-idUSKCN26420N [11] https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53652974
Science has also ventured into the health-and-wellness sector, with the development of a genetic engineering method called pronuclear transfer, which has the potential to prevent the transmission of rare, incurable mitochondrial genetic diseases. Furthermore, this technique has proven effective in creating embryos free from severe mitochondrial defects, offering new hope for families with these diseases.
