After 4 unsuccessful attempts to in vitro fertilization, a 32-year-old Greek woman has just given birth to a baby with 3 DNA: her own, that of her spouse and that of the mother who gave the envelope of an oocyte. “We are now able to enable women with multiple IVF failures or rare mitochondrial genetic diseases to have a healthy child” said Dr Panagiotis Psathas, president of the Life Institute of Athens who worked on this trial of assisted reproduction.
A method that preserves the genetic heritage
For this procedure, the embryologist transferred the genetic materials containing the mother’s chromosomes into a donor egg that had been emptied of its nucleus. Fertilization was performed in vitro with the father’s sperm and the embryo implanted in the mother’s uterus. “The inalienable right of a woman to become a mother with her own genetic material has become a reality” affirmed the doctor by presenting this experimental technique called Maternal Spindle Transfer.
A still experimental procedure
For this birth, the Greek team worked with the Spanish center Embryotools who recruited 24 other women for further implantation trials. Doctors remind that this is still an experimental procedure. “Studies must be pursued carefully and without haste in order to complete all the steps necessary to demonstrate that it is a safe technique”.
Read also :
Endometriosis and pregnancy: what are the obstacles to overcome?
Menopausal at 23, a young Australian will have twins