California, May 8: Research team of Salk Institute of Biological Studies in California belonging to Hyderabad city developed Novel Gene Editing technique that helps women to prevent their children from inheriting severe illnesses including heart and brain.
Novel Gene Editing technique includes editing of DNA in the mitochondria which is inherited only from mother, and it dubbed as the ‘powerhouse’ to generate chemical energy for body. The changes in mitochondria can only be inherited only from mother and that can affect single organs which cause illness for lifetime.
Changes in mtDNA effects mainly organs which are heavily energy dependent like brain, heart and it will also be the reason of hormonal disorders like diabetes.
Mr. Reddy’s team showed exact enzymes ‘restriction endonucleases’ and transcription activator-like effector nucleases’ to target and eliminate mtDNA changes. Their technique was verified in checking a specific type of mtDNA in mice eggs.
Mr.Reddy who obtained a doctorate from Sweden and completed post-graduation work at Satnford University explained details that “In the generated mice, we have done a complete blood analysis and also measured the levels of glucose and other markers for mitochondria dysfunction. All the analysis displayed normal levels in these mice. These results demonstrate the potential of this technology in future to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases”.
The efficiency and safety of technique has to be tested before experimented on human and it can be done in fertility clinics as it only involves administering an injection into eggs.