Childless couples affected by the woman’s infertility could still
have a child that is genetically theirs, using a donor egg, researchers have claimed.
The new technique, which has not yet reached the stage of producing a
baby, allows doctors to change the genes of the donated egg by ‘gluing’ on the
genes of the mother-to-be.
The couples would be able to use the man’s sperm, another woman’s egg and
still have a child with nearly the same genes as the parents.
The method offers hope for older women to have children as well as offer treatment for
certain conditions.
The team of French, Spanish and Italian fertility experts, writing in the journal Human
Reproduction, calls the technique membrane fusion.
But no attempt has been made to fertilise the changed eggs, because of strict controls
on embryo research in the countries concerned. It is hoped that a fertilisation may be
able to be take place in Brazil by the end of this year, where guidelines are different.
The new work offers hope to 10% of couples that receive IVF, specifically those who are
trying to over come cytoplasmic defects – a problem with certain material in the
woman’s eggs.
Do you feel this technique genuinely offers a chance of having a baby for infertile
couples or is it another theory that raises hopes too early? Have your say on our Views on the News or Trying for a Baby discussion boards.
Read babyworld’s information on what can cause
infertility, and what you can do.
