India, July 22 -- Mitochondria are tiny parts of our cells that make energy, and they have their own special DNA. This DNA is passed only from mother to child. But sometimes, it can have mutations which can lead to serious diseases with no cure in babies.
"It's just such a burden that goes down through the generations of women in these families," study co-author Mary Herbert said. "It really is gratifying to be able to do something, to offer some kind of way out."
To avoid this situation, scientists have been experimenting with a new medical technique called mitochondrial donation, which has recently shown promise in preventing these diseases. In the UK trial, eight babies who were at high risk of inheriting mitochondrial diseases from th...