Additional strength for the egg

2004/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

There is one way to be more successful in in vitro fertilization: to introduce the mitochondria of another woman's egg into the egg that wants to be fertilized. However, this technique poses ethical problems, since the resulting embryo contains genetic material of three people (mother, father and woman who has given mitochondria).

However, some Taiwanese doctors find a solution. It seems that the same result is achieved by introducing the mitochondria of another cell of the same woman into the egg. In fact, researchers have introduced 5,000 mitochondria of an ovarian cell into the egg, 5% of the mitochondria it contains. The egg has been fertilized in the laboratory and placed in the woman's uterus.

Of the 71 women, 35% became pregnant immediately and 20 children were born. It was tried ahead with the same group of women, but without the help of mitochondria, when only 6% became pregnant. It seems that the key to success lies in the energy provided by additional mitochondria.

On the other hand, in vitro fertilization, American doctors have concluded that it is not convenient to install more than one embryo in the uterus. So far more than one was established to ensure that a child was to be born. However, with current advances, this is not necessary, so experts consider it better to establish a single embryo.