Mitochondrial Donation Techniques

Mitochondrial donation techniques are advanced reproductive methods designed to prevent passing on certain genetic disorders caused by faulty mitochondria— tiny structures in cells that generate energy. These techniques involve replacing the damaged mitochondria in an egg or embryo with healthy ones from a donor. This process results in a baby with genetic material from three people: the mother, father, and mitochondrial donor. The main methods include maternal spindle transfer and pronuclear transfer, which ensure the child's mitochondria come from the donor, reducing the risk of mitochondrial diseases while allowing the mother’s nuclear DNA to be preserved.