The Nature article mentioned that a federal law in the United States has prevented trials of mitochondrial DNA transfer in humans; however, some scientists have researched the practice in other organisms like mice and monkeys. A panel suggested limiting human trials to only male embryos as a safety precaution, since males would be unable to pass modified mitochondrial DNA to their children. Interestingly enough, the United Kingdom approved mitochondrial replacement without restrictions on the sex of the embryos
The Nature article mentioned that a federal law in the United States has prevented trials of mitochondrial DNA transfer in humans; however, some scientists have researched the practice in other organisms like mice and monkeys. A panel suggested limiting human trials to only male embryos as a safety precaution, since males would be unable to pass modified mitochondrial DNA to their children. Interestingly enough, the United Kingdom approved mitochondrial replacement without restrictions on the sex of the embryos