UK Authorities gives three parent IVF the green light

Several months back, we reported in our blog that the authorities that regulate IVF and other fertility procedures in the UK were considering allowing IVF with mitochondrial transfer to move forward. Mitochondrial transfer is more popularly known as “three parent IVF,” because it involves three genetic parents: the woman who provides her chromosomes, the husband who provides his chromosomes and the donor who provides the mitochondria which contain their own DNA.  The HFEA in the UK has now given the green light for tightly regulated research to proceed on mitochondrial transfer. So, now it is likely that fertility researchers in Britain will move forward and learn whether this technique can help couples with mitochondrial diseases.