“‘Three-parent IVF’ was supposed to prevent mitochondrial disease. Studies are raising doubts”

Key points

• UK reported eight healthy children born via mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRT) last year.
• Regulators and researchers in Australia plan to launch their own MRT national experiment.
• Emerging data and small studies question MRT's safety and best use to prevent disease.
• Smeets warns the public overestimating MRT safety and low risk.
• Reversion, where defective mitochondria resurface, has been observed in spindle and pronuclear transfer methods.