“Three Parent Technique,” ​​a study explains why it is safe

In the new study, researchers from several Chinese institutes, including Peking University’s School of Life Sciences, analyzed the development during the first week of 46 embryos (to be precise blastocyst) obtained with the transfer of the melt. And they observed that the expression of their genes was quite similar to that of embryos that had not been subjected to that technique. “These data indicate that the transfer procedure of the time zone it does not significantly stress the DNA of the nucleus is that the expression of the genes is not changedwhich was one of the open scientific questions, awaiting an answer”, Underlines the expert. It is not the only one, of course, so there is a need for studies that further confirm the safety and efficacy of the technique. “Mitochondrial DNA replacement is a controversial field “in fact, says a Nature one of the study authors, Wei Shang, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing. “With our research, we hope to provide a basis for the development of the technique ”. This confirmation on safety was expected, as he points out, always on NatureDietrich Egli, stem cell biologist at Columbia University in New York: “But so far it hasn’t been definitively proven. The work is unique and exceptional for its high quality and the amount of data it provides“.

It is normal practice to continue to collect data on the safety of techniques (such as drugs) over time, even after their approval, exactly as it did for the medically assisted procreation Years ago. As for the transfer of the spindle, you need long-term numbers and analysis, but it’s a dog biting its own tail. Also because mitochondrial diseases are “almost” rare: on the whole they are of interest one person for every 5 thousand (which is the limit for the definition of rare disease) e in Italy it is estimated that between 10 and 15 thousand people are affected.

While the technique today can only be used in the UK and Australia, some countries in Europe have initiated debates. In Italy, theAssociation Mitocon, which brings together people and parents of children with mitochondrial diseases, doctors and researchers, is carrying out an information and awareness project thanks to a campaign that has just ended. “For us it is very important that the ethical issue of the donation of mitochondria be discussed publicly “points out Piero Santantonioamong the founders and past president of the association: “In recent months we have launched a debate involving various stakeholders, such as the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, organizations dealing with rare diseases, parliamentary representatives and even pro-life associations, which in the past had expressed a reservation. We want the dialogue not to exclude anyone in order to find ways to apply this technique also in our country, respecting all sensitivities“. 40 years after their discovery, mitochondrial diseases continue to be a puzzle for science. “We are still truly unarmed – concludes Santantonio – We now have a technique that can potentially solve some cases at the source, but the fact of not being able to apply it prevents us from knowing better the possibilities of use. We hope that this and other studies will help make its dissemination easier“.