Three parent families: Mitochondria, Ageing and the Third Party
mtDNA sequencing shows mutational differences when mtDNA of super geriatrics is compared to that of ‘normal’ folk. This is exciting because it contrasts with the past failures to find differences in nuclear DNA for these populations and mitochondria a important to the ageing process. A global pan species mtDNA sequence database has been setup to collects and collate these data.
I think, increasingly, the centrality of mitochondria in the ageing process is not in dispute. Their reproduction, number, size and electrochemical integrity links directly to the well being and longevity of a cell, an organ and ultimately the organism.
The three parent embryo has made headlines recently in the treatment of mitochondrial disease. The concept is simple, mitochondria are only inherited from the maternal line via her eggs and if her mitochondria carry a mutation which causes a disease it will be passed on to a child. The answer to the problem is to remove the disease carrying mitochondria from the egg and replace it with ‘normal’ mitochondria from a female donor’s egg.
The above provides a scenario for genetic engineering, eugenics. There are millions of human eggs frozen and in store. This has been going on for about forty years and the average age of the donor is nearly forty years old. Some donors if alive are approaching the age of seventy plus where super-geriatric traits are emerging. Potentially then mitochondria from their frozen eggs can be transplanted into eggs depleted of diseased mitochondria.
A race of supergeriatrics could be engineered.
Unethical, for sure, will it be done?
Surely, the narcissitic super-rich could not resist it for their special offspring?
