Authors
Lyndsey Craven, Helen Tuppen, Rob Taylor, Mary Herbert, and Doug Turnbull
Summary
Maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are a common cause of genetic disease. However, to date, there has been very little success in developing effective treatments for mtDNA disease. Nuclear genome transfer techniques are a promising approach for the prevention of transmission of human mtDNA disease.1,2 Recently, metaphase II spindle transfer between unfertilised metaphase II oocytes has successfully been performed in oocytes from non-human primates, resulting in live offspring in which no donor mtDNA was detectable.3 An alternative approach to metaphase II spindle transfer is pronuclear transfer between fertilised embryos. An advantage of this approach is the enclosure of the nuclear genetic material within a membrane which precludes a loss of genetic material during transfer that is possible when using the metaphase II spindle technique. Pronuclear transfer is well established in mouse embryos.4 We have applied the technique for the first time in abnormally fertilised human embryos. The procedures for performing the pronuclear transfer and the subsequent necessary genetic analyses to confirm successful transfer are outlined.Further details
The protocol was published on Protocol Exchange on 22 July 2010. To see the entire protocol, click on the source link.Advertisement
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