| Ooplasmic and nuclear transfer to prevent mitochondrial DNA disorders: conceptual and normative issues. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18772267 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND; Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disorders are an important cause of human diseases. In view of the limitations of prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnoses, alternatives such as ooplasmic transfer (OT) and nuclear transfer (NT) have been proposed to prevent the transmission of mtDNA mutations. Both OT and NT are radical in the sense that they do not entail genetic selection, but genetic intervention to correct the genetic cause of the disease. METHODS: After interviews with experts in the field, the relevant literature was searched and analyzed. Bioethical issues were divided into conceptual and normative points. RESULTS: OT is the transfer of normal mitochondria to a carrier's oocyte containing mutant mtDNA. In case of NT, a donated oocyte is enucleated and replaced with the nuclear DNA from a woman carrying a mtDNA mutation. NT can be performed both before and after in vitro fertilization, respectively, with the nucleus of an unfertilized oocyte, with the pronuclei of the zygote, or with the nucleus of a blastomere of an embryo. Conceptual questions regard whether these techniques amount to germ-line modification and human cloning. Normative questions concern, among others, the significance of intervening in the mtDNA, the implications of having 'three genetic parents', the ethics of oocyte donation and the health and safety risks for children conceived as a result of one of these techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Further interdisciplinary debate and research is needed to determine whether a clinical application of OT and NT can be morally justified, and if so, under which conditions. |
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Authors:
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A L Bredenoord; G Pennings; G de Wert |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review Date: 2008-09-04 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Human reproduction update Volume: 14 ISSN: 1460-2369 ISO Abbreviation: Hum. Reprod. Update Publication Date: 2008 Nov-Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-10-20 Completed Date: 2009-01-15 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9507614 Medline TA: Hum Reprod Update Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 669-78 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Maastricht University, Health, Ethics and Society and Research Institute GROW, Maastricht, The Netherlands. a.bredenoord@hes.unimaas.nl |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Cloning, Organism
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ethics Cytoplasm / transplantation* DNA, Mitochondrial / chemistry*, physiology Embryo Research / ethics Humans Mitochondrial Diseases / prevention & control* Nuclear Transfer Techniques / ethics* Oocyte Donation / ethics Oocytes / transplantation, ultrastructure* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/DNA, Mitochondrial |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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