The Scientista Foundation
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Team
  • My Campus
    • Find My Campus
    • Start A Chapter >
      • Chapter Application
      • Chapter Application (In Progress)
  • The Periodical
    • Career Blog
    • Plan Your Education
    • Lifestyle Blog
    • Women in Science News
    • DiscovHER Science
    • Get Inspired
  • Events
    • Events
    • Symposium 2019
    • Symposium Testimonials
  • Join
    • Subscribe!
    • Internships
    • Test Membership
  • Sponsorship
    • Our Sponsors
    • Sponsor Scientista!
    • University Membership
    • Donate
  • happymed
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Team
  • My Campus
    • Find My Campus
    • Start A Chapter >
      • Chapter Application
      • Chapter Application (In Progress)
  • The Periodical
    • Career Blog
    • Plan Your Education
    • Lifestyle Blog
    • Women in Science News
    • DiscovHER Science
    • Get Inspired
  • Events
    • Events
    • Symposium 2019
    • Symposium Testimonials
  • Join
    • Subscribe!
    • Internships
    • Test Membership
  • Sponsorship
    • Our Sponsors
    • Sponsor Scientista!
    • University Membership
    • Donate
  • happymed
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

4/9/2015 0 Comments

3 People, 1 Healthy Child

Picture
By Kaitlynn Bayne

Recently, the UK has decided to pass a law allowing a baby to be created by three people.  At first thought, you might wonder why this would be necessary.  However, this technique was actually created as a way to prevent mitochondrial defects being passed on to a child from its mother.  Defects in mitochondria can cause damage to the brain, degrading muscle, heart failure and blindness. 

There are two different ways this technique can be done.  First, you take the nucleus from the embryo of the parents and you remove and destroy the nucleus of the donor.  Then, you take the parents’ nucleus and add it to the donor’s embryo, which is then implanted into the wound.  The second method is very similar, however, instead of using the parents’ embryo, it takes the nucleus from the mother’s egg. 

There are many people who disagree with this method because they believe it is allowing people to “play God.”  But, although it isn’t natural, it does not mess with the DNA at all.  It purely focuses on the mitochondria and transfers all of the genetic material from the parents’ nucleus into the healthy mitochondria of the donor.  All this does is eliminate mitochondrial defects and allows a woman that passes along this genetic disease to have healthy children. 

This process was recently voted on in the UK and won 382-128.  Another part of UK government still has to vote on this; however, if passed, it could be as early as next year for a baby of this kind to be born.  Although the ethics are being questioned, I think it is an amazing discovery, especially for those who do carry genetic disorders.  This is giving parents an opportunity they wouldn’t normally have- to have a healthy child.  I think that is reason enough for the UK to pass this!



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    WELCOME, UMICH SCIENTISTAS! 

    Picture
      The University of Michigan Scientista Chapter is dedicated to providing every UMich Scientista with campus-related advice, news, articles, features and more. Browse through our website and join our mailing list to gain access to great resources and events!

    CAMPUS PICS

    WHAT'S NEW

    Tweets by @ScientistaUMich

    UPCOMING EVENTS

    PAST POSTS

    October 2022
    October 2019
    September 2019
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013

    SORT BY TAG

    All

    RSS Feed


About

Mission  
Team


Connect

E-Newsletter
Facebook
Twitter
​
Instagram
Contact 


Press

All Press
Harvard Crimson
Harvard Gazette
Bostinnovation.com

Partner

Our Sponsors
Sponsorship Inquiries
​Partnership Inquiries
The Scientista Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved © 2011-2021 | Based in NY | [email protected]
The Network for Pre-Professional Women in Science and Engineering
The Scientista Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) -- Donate!

Photo from Nomadic Lass