Can A Baby Have Three Dnas? Exploring Triparental Genetic Inheritance

How is it possible for a baby to inherit DNA from three different individuals? This intriguing process, often referred to as “three-person in vitro fertilization (IVF),” is a groundbreaking technique that entails transferring the nuclear genetic material from an egg or single-cell embryo carrying mitochondria with disease-causing mutations to a donor egg or embryo from which the nuclear genetic material has been extracted. This method, as of May 12, 2023, has enabled scientists to address specific genetic concerns while ensuring the child inherits genetic material from both biological parents and a third donor, with healthy mitochondria, resulting in a unique combination of genetic contributions from three individuals.

LONDON — On May 10, 2023, Britain’s fertility regulator officially announced a groundbreaking development: the successful birth of the United Kingdom’s inaugural set of babies conceived through an innovative procedure that incorporates genetic material from three distinct individuals. This pioneering technique was employed to safeguard these infants from inheriting uncommon, yet severe, genetic disorders.

To understand how many DNA strands a baby possesses, we need to delve into the process of genetic inheritance. Before conception, a crucial cellular division occurs to ensure that the baby does not inherit an excessive amount of DNA material. This division is crucial because each cell responsible for forming the baby must contain precisely 23 chromosomes. These chromosomes serve as the genetic blueprints that carry essential information for the baby’s development. When the maternal and paternal cells unite during fertilization, the resulting combination merges 23 chromosomes from the mother with 23 from the father, resulting in a total of 46 chromosomes. These 46 chromosomes, organized into pairs, provide the complete genetic makeup that guides the baby’s growth and development.