the assignment title ‘Critical Reading Assignment #3’ from my genetics class tasked me with taking a stand towards ethical issues regarding embryonic changes via MRT. My easy reads as follows.
Critical Reading Assignment #3
Mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy should be allowed for medical use because it can prevent children from being born with serious mitochondrial diseases. When a treatment can stop severe illness before a child is even born with it, and it’s done safely and carefully, I believe it is ethically acceptable to use it. Mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy deals directly with the question of whether artificially changing an embryo to prevent disease is morally right. I think it is justified because the goal is not to enhance or change traits, but to stop harmful medical problems from developing in an individual.
Mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy is a technique where the nuclear DNA from a woman who carries mutated mitochondrial DNA is moved into a donor egg or embryo withhealthy mitochondrial DNA. The child would still get almost all their genes from their parents, but the healthy mitochondria would come from a donor. Thus, the child does not inherit the disease. The 2014 article by Mitalipov and Wolf explains how mitochondrial problems can lead to serious metabolic and neurological disorders. The article also discusses how replacing the damaged mitochondria can help restore normal cell function, therefore preventing the aparition of mtDNA related diseases. Furthermore, the article continued describing methods such as spindle transfer and pronuclear transfer, which have shown success in research, but still need long-term safety studies.
Mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy creates ethical concerns because it changes the embryo in a way that’s genetically heritable. Worry may arise concerning the making of any genetic changes that affect gametes, even if they are meant to prevent disease. Some might even be concerned about the idea of a “third genetic parent”, since donor mitochondria would come from someone other than the biological parents. Additionally, there might also be worries about whether this technology could one day be used for non-medical genetic changes. Economically, socially and maybe even politically some groups may experience different consequences from mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy. Unsurprisingly, this is why this novel therapy raises a plethora of ethical debates.
Nonetheless, I support mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy due to its potential inpreventing serious and untreatable diseases. This follows ethical ideas such as, helping others and avoiding harm. The 2014 article points out that the goal of MRT is to stop harmful mitochondrial problems, not to change or enhance a child’s traits or abilities. The therapy focuses only on fixing a specific medical issue. If mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy is implemented with carefully panned regulations, safe protocols, transparent communication, and long-term follow-up of patients, families and many future children could be greatly benefited.For these reasons, I believe that using mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy in a controlled,responsible way is ethically justified.
References
Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2014 January ; 25(1): 5–7. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2013.09.001.
NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript
Perry, E. (2023, June 2). 8 ethical values every professional should adopt. BetterUpBlog. https://www.betterup.com/blog/ethical-values