Question
UPSC Prelims 2021 Question:
In the context of hereditary diseases,
consider the following statements:
- Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of the egg.
- A child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from mother and not from father.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Option 3: Both 1 and 2
Detailed Solution
Explanation:
- Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) is a new form of reproductive in vitro fertilization (IVF). It works on the principle of replacing a woman's abnormal mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) with the donor's healthy one.
- MRT can be done before (maternal spindle transfer (MST) technique) or after (pronuclear transfer technique) fertilization of the egg. So, statement 1 is correct.
- MRT provides the substitution of defective cytoplasm with cured one to enhance the expectation of pregnancy rates. During fertilization, cytoplasm cells are inherited from females. Hence, a child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from mother and not from father. So, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.
Subject: Science & Technology | Diseases
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