Posted on 4/14/2010, 7:53:27 PM by honestabe010
The breakthrough opens up the possibility of avoiding a range of disorders which can lead to early childhood death.
Around one in 6,500 children in the UK is severely affected by the disorders, which can cause muscle weakness, blindness, heart and liver failure, diabetes and learning disabilities.
The diseases are all linked to genetic deformities in mitochondria - a component of cells that act like batteries to generate energy
Mitochondria DNA is separate from that of the cell nucleus and contains far fewer genes. It is only passed from mothers to their children.
There are no treatments available which can cure mitochondrial diseases. Mothers with a family history of the disorders normally face the agonising choice of risking having an affected child or no child at all.
The new technique developed at the University of Newcastle raises the hope of ensuring a baby does not inherit malfunctioning mitochondrial DNA.
It involves transferring nuclear DNA inherited from a child's parents to a donor egg carrying its own, properly functioning, mitochondria.
''What we've done is like changing the battery on a laptop,'' said Professor Doug Turnbull, one of the study leaders. ''The energy supply now works properly, but none of the information on the hard drive has been changed.
(Excerpt) Read more at thewoodwardreport.com ...
The biggest threat to their health is the socialist health care system.
DNA breakthrough could eliminate devastating inherited conditions
Like liberalism?
Sounds like the hard way to do it.
Methinks it would be easier to transfer good, functioning mitochondria from a donor to a womans ova.
I was wondering about this just the other night.
Just beat me to it.
Nah, That’s an Acquired disease...............
Would you like Son 3.0, Son - Sports Edition, or Son GT? Some of the extra options help in holding the value.
Oh yeah, and for the scent - Citrus, Cherry, or New Son smell?
Red Diaper Doper Rash.
Quasi-humans conceived this way should be denied all civil rights and benefits. The only proper way for a human to be conceived is as a result of intercourse in the missionary position in bed after dark, with the lights out, between a man and a woman married to each other in a religious ceremony.
Exchanging one nucleus is doable, pulling out dozens of mitochondria without destroying the ovum is not.
Missionary position? That’s SO 2001.
I didn’t say take anything out of the ovum.
Just insert the new ones, and let them live side by side.
Who cares if some of them don’t work, as long as some of them do.
On our way to Gattaca.
Intercourse during a religious ceremony? You’re sick.
Don’t get too excited, as research reveals new and wonderous life-saving techniques, government bureaucrats will increasingly refuse to pay for them.
You forgot the sarcasm mark.
No sense belaboring the obvious.
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