Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques: Ethical, Social, and Policy Considerations - Softcover

National Academies Of Sciences, Engineering, And Medicine; Institute Of Medicine; Board On Health Sciences Policy; Committee On The Ethical And Social Policy Considerations Of Novel Techniques For Prevention Of Maternal Transmission Of Mitochondrial DNA Diseases

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309388708 ISBN 13: 9780309388702

Publisher: National Academies Press, 2016

Synopsis

Mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs) are designed to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases from mother to child. While MRTs, if effective, could satisfy a desire of women seeking to have a genetically related child without the risk of passing on mtDNA disease, the technique raises significant ethical and social issues. It would create offspring who have genetic material from two women, something never sanctioned in humans, and would create mitochondrial changes that could be heritable (in female offspring), and therefore passed on in perpetuity. The manipulation would be performed on eggs or embryos, would affect every cell of the resulting individual, and once carried out this genetic manipulation is not reversible.

Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques considers the implications of manipulating mitochondrial content both in children born to women as a result of participating in these studies and in descendants of any female offspring. This study examines the ethical and social issues related to MRTs, outlines principles that would provide a framework and foundation for oversight of MRTs, and develops recommendations to inform the Food and Drug Administration’s consideration of investigational new drug applications.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Science and Policy Context
• 3 Do Ethical, Social, and Policy Considerations Preclude MRT?
• 4 Regulation and Oversight of MRT in Humans
• Appendix A: Study Approach
• Appendix B: Summary of MRT Research
• Appendix C: Biosketches of Committee Members

About this edition

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0309388708
• ISBN 13: 9780309388702
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200
• Editor: Kahn Jeffrey, English Rebecca, Claiborne Anne