Synthetic DNA and mitochondrial donation : no need for donor eggs?
(2025) In Journal of Medical Ethics- Abstract
- Mitochondrial replacement therapy has been developed in order to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial mutations, yet it raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding the involvement of third-party DNA and the risks associated with donor procedures. This paper explores an alternative approach using synthetic DNA (synDNA) to construct mitochondrial organelles, thereby bypassing the need for donor oocytes and bypassing risks to donors. We argue that those who support mitochondrial replacement techniques as an ethically acceptable means of preventing the transmission of mitochondrial disease should consider the use of synthetic mitochondria as a preferable ethical alternative, should it prove technically viable. That this will be viable... (More)
- Mitochondrial replacement therapy has been developed in order to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial mutations, yet it raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding the involvement of third-party DNA and the risks associated with donor procedures. This paper explores an alternative approach using synthetic DNA (synDNA) to construct mitochondrial organelles, thereby bypassing the need for donor oocytes and bypassing risks to donors. We argue that those who support mitochondrial replacement techniques as an ethically acceptable means of preventing the transmission of mitochondrial disease should consider the use of synthetic mitochondria as a preferable ethical alternative, should it prove technically viable. That this will be viable is more than we can demonstrate here. However, progress in synDNA technology suggests that it is not unreasonable to think that synthetic mitochondria creation is feasible, and perhaps even probable. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3b88889e-3965-479c-a2b3-cd20b9cd4d5c
- author
- Villalba, Adrian ; Brassington, Iain ; Smajdor, Anna and Cutas, Daniela LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-05-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- synthetic DNA, synDNA, mitochondrial donation, donor eggs, reproductive ethics
- in
- Journal of Medical Ethics
- publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:40335280
- ISSN
- 1473-4257
- DOI
- 10.1136/jme-2024-110122
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3b88889e-3965-479c-a2b3-cd20b9cd4d5c
- date added to LUP
- 2025-05-08 11:21:02
- date last changed
- 2025-05-09 03:00:02
@article{3b88889e-3965-479c-a2b3-cd20b9cd4d5c,
abstract = {{Mitochondrial replacement therapy has been developed in order to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial mutations, yet it raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding the involvement of third-party DNA and the risks associated with donor procedures. This paper explores an alternative approach using synthetic DNA (synDNA) to construct mitochondrial organelles, thereby bypassing the need for donor oocytes and bypassing risks to donors. We argue that those who support mitochondrial replacement techniques as an ethically acceptable means of preventing the transmission of mitochondrial disease should consider the use of synthetic mitochondria as a preferable ethical alternative, should it prove technically viable. That this will be viable is more than we can demonstrate here. However, progress in synDNA technology suggests that it is not unreasonable to think that synthetic mitochondria creation is feasible, and perhaps even probable.}},
author = {{Villalba, Adrian and Brassington, Iain and Smajdor, Anna and Cutas, Daniela}},
issn = {{1473-4257}},
keywords = {{synthetic DNA; synDNA; mitochondrial donation; donor eggs; reproductive ethics}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
publisher = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
series = {{Journal of Medical Ethics}},
title = {{Synthetic DNA and mitochondrial donation : no need for donor eggs?}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jme-2024-110122}},
doi = {{10.1136/jme-2024-110122}},
year = {{2025}},
}