A Mitochondrial DNA Transplant Could Help Treat Hundreds Of Diseases

[Remy]

Not really "news" since it is a year old already, but thought this was too interesting not to share anyway.

Maybe my puppy mitochondrial transplant isn't so far off after all.

The discovery could have major implications for the field of synthetic biology and the treatment of diseases caused by defective mitochondrial DNA. As reported in the New Zealand Herald, the discovery offers new avenues for targeting debilitating brain and muscle diseases in which defective genes are replaced with custom-designed, or synthetic, mitochondrial DNA.

Unrelated to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA encodes our genetic profile and encodes key proteins within mitochondria that convert energy from food into energy that's crucial for brain and muscle function. Prior to the new study, scientists thought these genes stayed within cells, except during reproduction.

But experiments conducted by a team led by professor Mike Berridge from the Malaghan Institute have shown this isn't the case.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/a-mitochondrial-dna-transplant-could-help-treat-hundred-1678014687

 

[Who Me?]

We'll be cured!!