Biologists in Oregon report they’ve produced early-stage human embryos with genes from three parents, a new method that some day may keep babies from inheriting rare diseases carried by maternal genes. The gene transplant researchers led by Masahito Tachibana of the Oregon Health & Science University in Beaverton, produced early-stage human embryos that contained healthy versions of “mitochondrial” DNA, which only comes from a mother. Defects in those genes can cause diseases involving muscle weakness, brain abnormalities and other ailments that occur in 1,000 to 4,000 births every year nationwide.
View the original article here: Three-parent fertility method could remove gene defects – USA TODAY
