👶 Three-Parent Baby: A New Hope or Ethical Dilemma in Reproductive Medicine?

[LikhithaReddy]

You may have heard of IVF or surrogacy, but what if a baby could be born with DNA from three people?

That’s exactly what’s happening with Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT)—a technique where a baby is created using genetic material from three individuals:

Nuclear DNA (99.8%) comes from the mother and father

Mitochondrial DNA (0.2%) is taken from a donor woman

Why Is This Done?

Some women carry mitochondrial diseases—genetic disorders passed down through defective mitochondria. These diseases can cause muscle weakness, heart problems, neurological damage, and even death in babies.

MRT was developed to prevent the transmission of such diseases, giving parents a chance to have healthy biological children.

How Does It Work?

1. Mother’s egg (with faulty mitochondria) has its nuclear DNA removed

2. A donor egg (with healthy mitochondria) also has its nucleus removed

3. Mother’s nuclear DNA is inserted into the donor egg

4. This egg is fertilized with the father’s sperm → creating an embryo

The resulting baby carries:

Traits (eye color, height, etc.) from mother and father

Mitochondrial health from the donor woman

Where Is It Done?

The first baby was born using this technique in Mexico (2016)

The UK became the first country to legally approve it under strict regulations

Recently, babies using this technique have been born in Greece, Ukraine, and a few other countries

Would you support this if it could prevent deadly genetic diseases? Or do you think it interferes too much with natural reproduction?

Let’s hear your thoughts!

[Prajal]

Some rare information

[Sushmita]

No idea about this very informative.

[anujpatil]

Interesting information.

It will be very helpful to prevent genetic diseases and with strict rules and regulation it will be very successful technique.

[Heenakoushar]

Great development its a new hope for parenting.babies are created by genetic material from different individual . Mrt techniques helps to give a healthy biological children

[prasanthkumar]

I found this really interesting. I think using DNA from three people through MRT is a great step to stop genetic diseases. It may sound unusual, but if it helps families have healthy babies, then it’s worth it. Science is truly amazing!

[Vinayak]

I found it very interesting about the development in parenting .

The post sounds so clear , point oriented and stick to the topic without insertion of any non relevant point.

[dranu1120]

Interesting

[Yash1612]

If used responsibly and ethically yes.

When the goal is to prevent suffering and preserve life, MRT isn’t about playing God it’s about using what we know to protect future generations. As long as it’s backed by science, governed by ethics, and used for the right reasons, MRT has the potential to change lives for the better.

[Neha87]

Very interesting information.

[MONA1]

Very informative.

In my opinion, people of our country are not even OK with the term surrogacy, if MRT technology can prevent deadly genetic diseases and give parents a healthy child, then I would prefer this.

[Fathimath_NA]

Very interesting and informative topic.
I would support this therapy as it looks really promising in managing and preventing genetic disorders in infants, but if implemented appropriately and ethically.

[dripsitapujari]

As this technique is useful in ceasing the transmission of potential inherited diseases to the next generation, it’s utilization is significant considering the personal decision of a family that might have anticipated difficulties and with a single decision through the adoption of this technique, their pain and suffering can end and a ray of hope they will find. This technique can be adopted after the careful evaluation of psychological, cultural, and ethical impact of it and this can vary from people to people. Hence, for universal application of this technique in the field of healthcare (when needed), clear policies will be required along with public awareness about this option. With a perfect equilibrium set between ethicality and empathy, this technique can be successfully implemented.

[KashishChauhan_21]

This is not just science — it’s hope encoded in mitochondria.

As someone from the medical field, I see Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT) not as a threat to nature but as a graceful fusion of compassion and technology.

Preventing inherited suffering like mitochondrial diseases — which can cause irreversible damage in infants — is not “playing god,” it’s preventing pain. And if a technique allows parents to have healthy biological children without passing on fatal genes, how is that ethically wrong?

But… I also believe strict ethical guidelines are non-negotiable. This technology should never become a tool for designer babies or genetic “perfection.” MRT must remain a medical solution — not a lifestyle choice.

In the end, it’s not about having “three parents.”

It’s about giving one chance at a full life — to a child who otherwise may not survive.

When used wisely, science doesn’t disrupt nature. .. it protects it.

• “If we could erase inherited suffering in just one generation, shouldn’t we at least try?”

[Rashmi_16]

Interesting and informative.
Thanks for sharing.

[Rachana]

It’s fascinating how science can help prevent genetic diseases like this. If it gives families a chance to have healthy children, I think it’s a good step forward. As long as it’s done safely and ethically, I would support it.

[shriya]

This is a major breakthrough to prevent mitochondrial birth defects!

[Rashichauhan]

If this technique can help prevent serious genetic diseases and give parents a healthy baby, then it’s a big hope in medical science.

[Tejaswini.V]

I would definitely support this because it can save many babies death or prevent any further complications or diseases

[caryn]

I think this is a boon to reproductive medicine. It can combat mitochondrial inheritance disorders that are otherwise unavoidable when passed down from mother to offspring. While there are ethical dillemas surrounding this, it is largely beneficial in every way!