Questions Relating to 'Mitochondrial Replacement'

In his response (BioNews 738) to the article 'Should persons affected by mitochondrial disorders not be brought into existence?' (BioNews 736), Professor Sandy Raeburn is right to recognise the suffering experienced by some families affected by genetic disorders including those with disabling mitochondrial conditions. These are individuals and families in which very real suffering and deep distress are present. The compassionate work of Professor Raeburn, and many others like him, who have sought, or are seeking, to alleviate this suffering, through a number of medical treatments, can only be commended.

However, those who are concerned about the possibility of using maternal spindle transfer (MST) and pronuclear transfer (PT) to address mitochondrial disorders do not have any less compassion than those who believe that such procedures should be introduced. It is just that they remain to be convinced that all the biological and/or other risks have been sufficiently addressed.

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