PGD and mitochondrial disease

BioNews - PGD could offer new hope for mitochondrial disease parents: Women at risk of passing on mitochondrial disease to their children could use preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to give birth to an unaffected child.* Scientists claim their work has the potential to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are varied, and have serious implications. For example, if the mutations do not cause an early death, children may be affected by visual and hearing problems, loss of muscle co-ordination, poor growth, mental retardation, heart, liver and kidney disease, neurological problems, respiratory disorders and dementia.

Editor: *It would be more correct to say mtDNA PGD allows lab technicians to destroy affected embryos.