Mitochondrial donation

Also known as Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT) in some territories, mitochondrial donation allows an embryo to be created using the nuclear DNA of the intended parents, but using mitochondria (including mitochondrial DNA) from a donor egg or embryo.

The procedure was developed to allow women with mitochondrial mutations have genetically related children while to avoiding passing on mitochondrial disease.

Several techniques exist, including maternal spindle transfer (MST) where the nucleus is transferred from the mother's egg to an enucleated donor egg and then fertilised, and pronuclear transfer, where the nuclear material is transferred after fertilisation has taken place. 

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