Nuffield Council Gives Green Light to the Prevention of Inherited Mitochondrial Disease

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has published an ethical review of new techniques which aim to prevent the transmission of faulty mtDNA from mother to child. The report concludes that such techniques are ethically permissible, provided that further research establishes their safety.

The Council said the benefits of children being born free of mitochondrial disorders outweigh the ethical concerns raised over the potential use of the techniques. It also highlighted the benefits of women carrying mutated mtDNA being able to have children who are genetically related to them, and ensuring that subsequent generations are also free from mitochondrial disorders.