Mitochondrial donation
- Mitochondrial disease is caused by mutations that prevent the mitochondria from producing energy the body needs.
- It is an emerging assisted reproductive technology and is not currently legal in Western Australia.
- The WA Government has committed to engaging with national consultations regarding emerging technology, including mitochondrial donation.
Mitochondrial donation is an emerging assisted reproductive technology that is used to minimise the risk of passing serious mitochondrial disease from mother to child.
Mitochondrial donation is not currently legal in Australia.
Mitochondrial disease is caused by mutations that prevent the mitochondria from producing the energy the body needs. The mutations can be inherited via nuclear DNA or the mitochondrial DNA.
Mitochondria are found in most of our cells. Whilst most of the cell DNA is found in the nucleus, a small amount of DNA is found in each mitochondria. This is called mitochondrial DNA. The mitochondria of the cell is responsible for energy production and cellular respiration.
When there are mutations in maternal mitochondrial DNA – these will be passed from mother to child via the egg cell, although the nature and severity of mitochondrial disease will be impacted by the number of affected mitochondrial cells that are contained in the egg cell.
Mitochondrial donation uses a donor egg cell. The nucleus is removed from the donor egg and the other cell structures, including the mitochondria, are left in place.
Legislation
Commonwealth legislation currently prohibits the creation of a human embryo, outside the body of a woman, which contains genetic material from more than two people.
Western Australian legislation also prohibits the use of an embryo that contains the genetic material of more than two people.
The Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve’s Law) Act (2022) (external site) is a Commonwealth law that sets out a staged approach to amending the Commonwealth legislation that currently makes mitochondrial donation illegal.
Assisted reproductive technology legislation is being reviewed (external site) in Western Australia and the WA Government has committed to engaging with national consultations regarding emerging technology, including mitochondrial donation.
Where to get help
Last reviewed: 31-05-2022
Acknowledgements
Reproductive Technology Unit