The Three Parent Baby

In recent years, there have been significant advancements in the fields of biotechnology and bioengineering. These advances include advancement in the understanding of the human genome and with it the ability to alter genetic material. While the alteration of human genes may have benefits, the use of this rapidly advancing technology should be approached with caution. The world recently witnessed the use of genetic alteration through a method called the “three parent baby.” This technique aims to prevent hereditary mitochondrial diseases in babies. Mitochondria are small organelles within cells. A mitochondrion contains enzymes that provide energy to a cell (Davidson). When mitochondria fail to function properly, it can lead to disease or
This process is called a spindle transfer. When a dividing cell begins to distribute its chromosomes, the chromosomes attach to a protein fiber called a spindle. In this procedure, a donor’s egg is emptied of its spindle and chromosomes and the mother’s chromosomes are injected in place of the donor’s. The father’s sperm is then added to the new egg, fertilizing it (Saey, “Three”). In April 2016 the first child was successfully conceived and born using this technique. The child’s mother has a mitochondrial mutation that results in her offspring having Leigh syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes heart, kidney, vision, and breathing complications. The mother previously had four miscarriages and two of her children have died as a result of this mitochondrial disorder. The procedure was performed in Mexico by Dr. John Zhang, a fertility doctor from New York, as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States has not approved the creation of a three-parent baby
The benefits of this technology could eventually eradicate diseases and create a world of healthier, happier people. However, as this technology becomes available to more people and to more research facilities, it will become much harder to regulate. This can lead to unregulated experimentation and may lead to unforeseen problems and possibly to new genetically related diseases. In order for this technology to help, not hinder society, it first needs to be explored thoroughly. In all, every new scientific discovery brings risks, including the new gene modification technology. Through responsible, regulated scientific research practices this technology could be explored using ethical principles and may result in discoveries that benefit