Mitochondria - public dialogue 2012
The Secretary of State for Health together with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills have jointly asked the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to seek public views on emerging IVF techniques designed to prevent mitochondrial disease.
Such techniques may allow women with particular genetic diseases to avoid passing them on to their child. These techniques are only permitted in research at present.
Our public dialogue will explore what people think about the possible use of these techniques in treatment – the transfer from laboratory to clinic.
The HFEA, working with Sciencewise, will begin the public dialogue later this year, guided by a group of experts which will oversee the process. The dialogue will be in several phases beginning with preparation starting now.
A full timeline of consultation events will be announced in early spring 2012.
What are mitochondria?
Mitochondria are tiny structures present in human cells which produce a cell’s energy, often referred to as the cell’s 'batteries'. They, and the small amount of DNA within them, are inherited from the mother through her eggs. When there are problems in the DNA it can result in a number of rare but serious diseases which can be fatal.
Faulty mitochondria give rise to at least 150 genetic diseases which are usually severe. About 1 in 5,000 babies born have a fault in their mitochondrial DNA (around 160 per year). Depending on which cells are affected by unhealthy mitochondria, symptoms can include loss of motor control, muscle weakness and pain, gastro-intestinal disorders and swallowing difficulties, poor growth and cardiac disease.
What are the techniques being developed to avoid mitochondrial disease?
Researchers believe that new techniques, known as pronuclear and maternal spindle transfer, may allow women who carry mitochondrial diseases to avoid transmitting the disease to their offspring.
Both maternal spindle transfer and pronuclear transfer involve the creation of embryos containing nuclear DNA from a man and a woman, plus mitochondrial DNA from another woman.
These techniques are only permitted in research at present.
Pronuclear transfer - An early embryo contains two pronuclei. These pronuclei contain nuclear genetic material from the egg and sperm as well as mitochondria from the egg.
An early embryo contains two pronuclei. These pronuclei contain nuclear genetic material from the egg and sperm as well as mitochondria from the egg.
Pronuclear transfer involves transferring the pronuclei from the embryo with unhealthy mitochondria and placing it into an embryo with healthy mitochondria, leaving the unhealthy mitochondria behind. This new embryo contains DNA of the father and mother, and the mitochondria from an egg donor.
Pronuclear transfer - the process
Maternal spindle transfer- Maternal spindle involves transferring the nuclear DNA from an egg (instead of an embryo) with unhealthy mitochondria and placing it into an egg with healthy mitochondria.
Maternal spindle transfer- the process
Our public dialogue will explore what people think about the possible use of these techniques in treatment – the transfer from the laboratory to clinic.
How to participate
To register your interest in the consultation, send an email to mitochondria@hfea.gov.uk with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line. We will send you regular updates, news and information on how you can get involved.
Related information
- Press release - HFEA to consult on ethics of mitochondria transfer
- 2011 review of scientific methods to avoid mitochondrial disease
- Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee meeting papers - May 2010
- Ethics and Law Advisory Committee meeting paper - June 2011
Scientific review
In Spring 2011, the Secretary of State for Health asked the HFEA to conduct an inquiry into the current state of scientific understanding of possible methods to avoid mitochondrial disease. The Authority established a small panel, with broad-ranging expertise, to collate and summarise scientific evidence submitted from a wide range of experts in the field. The HFEA submitted a report of the panel’s findings to the Department of Health on 18 April 2011.
Page last updated: 19 January 2012