n South African Medical Journal - Could we offer mitochondrial donation or similar assisted reproductive technology to South African patients with mitochondrial DNA disease? : editorial

Abstract

Mitochondrial disease comprises a highly heterogeneous group of disorders in which mitochondrial function is impaired as a result of mutations located either in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) itself or in a large number of nuclear genes involved in mitochondrial function. In 2015 the House of Commons in the UK voted to endorse the use of pioneering in vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques to protect future generations from the risk of mtDNA disease by the use of mitochondrial donation.