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News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Science Takes A Bold Leap With Three-Parent Babies. Is India Ready For It?
Last Updated: Mitochondrial replacement therapy, a breakthrough IVF-based technique, gives families with a history of mitochondrial disorders a chance to have healthy biological children A quiet but extraordinary medical milestone was reached in the UK recently where eight babies have been born free of fatal inherited conditions, thanks to a technique that uses DNA from three different people. The births were the result of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), a breakthrough IVF-based technique that gives families with a history of mitochondrial disorders a chance to have healthy biological children. In simple words, these disorders, which affect the energy-producing units in cells, can lead to unfortunate medical consequences like seizures, brain damage, deafness, blindness, and even early death. With eight children now living examples of this breakthrough, the world is at a scientific and ethical crossroads. While science is fascinating, it is complex as well and, in this case, involves cultural implications—especially for a country like India. How Do Three People Make A Baby? Let's unpack how these so-called 'three-parent" babies are created. Mitochondrial DNA makes up a tiny fraction—about 0.1 per cent—of our total genetic code, but it plays an outsized role in powering organs such as the brain and heart. In MRT, a fertilised embryo created from the biological parents' egg and sperm is transplanted into a healthy donor egg from which the nucleus has been removed. The nucleus, carrying the intended parents' genetic material, is inserted into the donor egg, which contains healthy mitochondria. The resulting embryo thus carries nuclear DNA from the mother and father and mitochondrial DNA from the donor—three sources, one baby. As Dr Sonu Taxak, fertility & IVF specialist at Yellow Fertility Centre, explains, 'the baby carries DNA from three people—nuclear DNA from both biological parents and a small amount (less than 1 per cent) of mitochondrial DNA from the donor. 'However, this doesn't affect the baby's traits or appearance." This technique holds tremendous value for women carrying mitochondrial mutations who fear passing on debilitating or fatal disorders. Until now, they had no preventive options. Taxak calls it a 'revolutionary option" for women who carry mitochondrial mutations but still wish to have genetically related children without passing on the condition. Dr Asmita Mahajan, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician at SL Raheja Hospital, told News18 that 'the technology is intended for children at high risk of inherited mitochondrial diseases, which can affect vital organs like heart, brain and so on, causing seizures, developmental delay, blindness, deafness, etc". Unlike gene editing, MRT does not manipulate traits like appearance or intelligence. It doesn't touch nuclear DNA, where such characteristics reside. Dr Sanjeev Galande, dean, School of Natural Sciences at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, sees this as a milestone in embryo manipulation. 'This marks a significant advancement in the field of genetic manipulation of embryos, distinct from traditional gene therapies that involve directly editing DNA… MRT presents a novel and seemingly safer alternative." Risks & Potential Like any emerging medical technique, MRT comes with uncertainties. For example, only 8 of 22 embryos treated in the UK resulted in live births—a reminder that success rates are still evolving. Dr Galande, who is also an internationally recognised molecular biologist and founding director of the Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics at IISER Pune, elaborated further: 'Initial failure rates can be high… However, with continued refinement and deeper understanding of the underlying biological processes, success rates are expected to improve." Mahajan from SL Raheja cautions that long-term risks are yet to be fully understood. 'The technology is still new, and long-term risks, such as autism or diabetes, are being debated." Yet, for families facing the certainty of passing on a fatal condition, the risk of inaction often outweighs that of experimental hope. Can India Catch Up? India's top IVF centres have the medical expertise to replicate MRT. But that alone won't be enough. Dr Galande believes 'India currently lacks the necessary regulatory and ethical frameworks for MRT. New guidelines and legislation would need to be developed". Dr Kshitija Patil, consultant clinical geneticist, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, agrees. 'India's ART and surrogacy laws do not cover germline modifications, and without updated guidelines from agencies like ICMR or DBT, clinical application remains a distant goal." Similarly, Taxak also highlights the urgency of tracking this globally. 'With a large population and rising awareness around genetic disorders, India should closely track such innovations. This could shape future fertility treatments, policy frameworks, and prenatal care standards." Ethics, Identity & Cultural Concerns The idea of a baby carrying DNA from three individuals—however minimal—challenges traditional notions of lineage, identity, and parenthood. In a country like India, where genetics and heritage carry cultural weight, such interventions may face resistance. Yet, mitochondrial donation doesn't alter appearance or personality; it prevents suffering. The ethical debate should not be about the number of genetic contributors, but about the intent — to give a child a healthy start in life. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : dna gene editing health matters IVF mitochondria news18 specials view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:03 IST News india Science Takes A Bold Leap With Three-Parent Babies. Is India Ready For It? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
16-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Can Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Treat Cancer? Indian Scientists Begin Tests After Positive Mice Data
Last Updated: Anecdotal and epidemiological evidence has also suggested that people taking statins regularly may have a lower risk of developing solid tumours such as colorectal or breast cancer Cholesterol-lowering statins, long trusted to protect hearts, may soon find a new role in cancer care — this time, as a potential ally in shrinking tumours. A team led by Dr Sanjeev Galande, dean of the School of Natural Sciences at Shiv Nadar University and one of India's leading cell biologists and epigeneticists, is repurposing statins to treat colorectal, breast and other solid cancers. In collaboration with the Tata Memorial Centre, a multi-phase clinical trial involving 350 patients is underway to evaluate the drug's cancer-fighting potential. The ongoing trial, which bypassed early-stage studies due to strong pre-clinical evidence, is comparing two groups: one receiving standard therapy (chemotherapy plus radiation), and another receiving statins as part of the regimen. Patient recruitment began in 2022, with results expected to be submitted for publication in the next few months. 'Our pre-clinical studies in animal models were promising. We induced tumour formation in mice and treated them with statins. Not only did the visible tumour lumps begin regressing, but molecular and cellular studies confirmed that statins reversed the tumorigenic process," Galande told News18. 'These drugs altered the molecular signature of cancer cells—switching off proteins that drive tumour growth and pushing cells back toward a normal state." The findings in mice, published in Oncotarget medical journal on Tuesday, showed how statins affected gene and protein expression in tumours, with data derived from dissected tissues and molecular assays. The samples were collected from patients via colonoscopy and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen before undergoing analysis. 'Importantly, anecdotal and epidemiological evidence has also suggested that people taking statins regularly may have a lower risk of developing solid tumours such as colorectal or breast cancer — though the effect does not appear to extend to blood cancers like leukemia, which follow different biological pathways," explained Galande, who is among India's most-decorated molecular biologists and a key 'torch-bearer of Indian bioscience". According to the trial protocol published on Clinical Trials Registry (CTRI), the success of the study would bring a low-cost, low-risk intervention in the form of statins that could 'potentially lead to the refinement of strategies, such as 'watch and wait', in a select subgroup of patients". Clinical Trial On Humans Likely To Conclude Soon Currently, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women worldwide. In India, it is the third most common cancer. In India, the annual incidence rates for colon cancer and rectal cancer in men are 4.4 and 4.1 per 100,000, respectively. The standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer is chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery. Galande's team, backed by funding from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), believes the implications of this research could extend to cancer prevention. 'Once the study on humans is peer-reviewed and published, statins could be explored as a precautionary treatment for individuals with a hereditary risk of cancer, given their well-established safety profile," he said. Under the trial, patients are given 20mg rosuvastatin—a popular statin—orally. The team also plans to investigate whether statins can help prevent metastasis in advanced cancers, particularly in secondary sites like the liver. If successful, this could open new avenues for affordable cancer therapy using an existing, widely available drug. 'The project began in 2019 but was temporarily stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic," Galande said, adding: 'However, the accelerated translation from lab to clinic has put it back on track — and statins may soon graduate from cholesterol management to tumour management." view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Science
- RTÉ News
Strawberry moon set to be visible across Irish skies
The strawberry moon will be visible across Irish skies this evening. The appearance of the strawberry moon is a rare one, as it occurs once every 18 years. The moon gets its name from native American tribes, who used it to mark the start of the strawberry-picking season. Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Assistant Professor Ray Butler, of the School of Natural Sciences at the University of Galway, said that he expects the moon to be salmon-pink in colour. He added that smoke from wildfires in the US will also impact what the moon will look like this evening. "Smoke from the wildfires crossed over and light passing through the smoke is reddened ... especially at low altitude in the sky. This particular June full moon is very low above the sun horizon, about eight degrees up," he said. "The combination of a low altitude which always makes things a little yellower, warmer in colour, and now this extra smoke will make it kind of particularly pronounced. "I would expect salmony-pink, because of these two effects," he added. Mr Butler said that while the strawberry moon will appear to be bigger in size, it will actually remain the same size as normal. "It'll be a normal size. There is an interesting psychological thing when the moon is close to the horizon, we think it's bigger than when it's higher in the sky. Of course it isn't actually. "If you look at something on a distant horizon ... they look really small. Therefore the moon, in contrast, looks big relative to them," he said. Mr Butler added that the strawberry moon will be visible throughout the night tonight, and will be clearest in the south east this evening, the south in the middle of the night and south west towards dawn.
Irish Examiner
04-06-2025
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
Heatwaves have a major impact on the spread of many diseases — Irish research
New research from scientists in Ireland strongly implies that heatwaves have a major influence on the spread of many diseases. Specifically, the scientists have discovered that differences in heatwaves — such as how much hotter they are than normal temperatures, and how long they last — can increase disease burden by up to 13 times in a commonly used experimental animal model. Their discovery and its implications come at an important time, with global climate change and related extreme weather events continuing to impact many in various ways (temperatures approached 50°C in Pakistan last month, while a cold snap in South Africa approached freezing conditions). Given the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves in particular, it's crucial to understand how these events will affect the spread of disease. Daphnia magna (water flea). Picture: Dieter Ebert While scientists have a relatively good idea of how temperature impacts some viruses and disease-causing pathogens and parasites, they know much less about the effects of sudden heatwaves or cold snaps, or how influential variation in the duration of these events are. That is what the scientists behind the new research, just published in the leading international journal PLOS Climate, set out to explore. Niamh McCartan: "While Ireland has so far been less affected, the findings of our study highlight the urgent need to understand how warming and extreme weather events can alter disease dynamics more broadly.' First author, Niamh McCartan, a PhD candidate from Trinity College Dublin's s School of Natural Sciences, noted: 'From a bigger-picture perspective, this work underlines the need for more detailed, context-specific models to help better predict the likely impact of heatwaves and climate change on different diseases. We now know that amplitude, duration, baseline temperature and the point at which exposure occurs have differing effects in shaping disease outcomes, so overly simplified models may miss critical complexities. For example, other researchers have suggested almost 70% of covid-19 cases in the summer of 2022 could have been avoided if there hadn't been heatwaves around that time — imagine the difference that a better understanding of how heatwaves alter disease dynamics could have made to countless people.' The results revealed that complex interactions exist between heatwave attributes and baseline temperatures, which in turn drive context-dependent effects on both pathogen prevalence and proliferation. Perhaps most importantly, when compared to other types of temperature variation (such as cold snaps), heatwaves behave differently — altering parasite burden up to 13-fold, and thus driving significant variation in infection outcomes. Parasite spore clusters (Ordospora colligata) seen as black dots within the gut of the host, Daphnia magna Niamh McCartan explained: 'In this study, we worked with the water flea (Daphnia magna) and a microsporidian pathogen (Ordospora colligata), which are a widely used model for environmentally transmitted diseases, to investigate the impacts of different heatwave attributes. We manipulated the amplitude and duration of heatwaves across four average temperatures and four distinct time points at which the hosts were exposed to the pathogen. This approach gave us 64 unique heatwaves for comparison.' 'A recently published study reported that 58% of human pathogenic diseases have been aggravated by climate change, with temperature changes impacting host susceptibility due to altering biological properties such as how our immune systems function, as well as our behaviour." 'Climate change is also causing mosquito species that carry diseases like dengue, Zika, and malaria to be increasingly found in parts of southern and central Europe, including Italy and France, areas that were previously too cool to support them. While Ireland has so far been less affected, the findings of our study highlight the urgent need to understand how warming and extreme weather events can alter disease dynamics more broadly.' 'With all of this in mind, it's important that future disease-specific models must account for fluctuating and extreme temperatures, not just averages.' In addition to this big-picture perspective, the findings of this work also have more specific, valuable insights for freshwater ecology, given that the water flea plays an important role in freshwater food webs, helping to support numerous other species that use them as a food source. In other cases, when their numbers plummet, algae can take over and negatively impact water quality, which in turn has a suite of negative, knock-on effects. This work was funded by a Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland) Frontiers for the Future award. Note: Although not all findings transfer directly across species, the animal model used in these experiments shares key features with many real-world disease systems, making it a powerful tool for uncovering general principles about how climate extremes might reshape disease dynamics.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A New Dwarf Planet Has Joined Our Solar System's Family—Meet Pluto's 'Extreme Cousin'
Earth has a new neighbor that lives far, far away. Scientists from the Institute for Advanced Study's School of Natural Sciences believe they have found a new dwarf planet in extreme outer space. Officially named 2017 OF201, the object is estimated to be about one-third the diameter of Pluto, making it large enough to be classified as a dwarf planet, the same designation given to Pluto in 2006. According to the International Astronomical Union, to be considered a planet, an object must orbit a star, be mostly round, and be big enough that its gravity clears away any other objects of similar size near its orbit. Dwarf planets, like Pluto, can't clear their orbit of debris. Sihao Cheng, an astrophysicist at the Institute for Advanced Study's School of Natural Sciences who led the team that discovered the object, described it as an "extreme 'cousin' of Pluto." The new finding is known as a trans-Neptunian object, or TNO, which are bodies in the solar system that orbit the sun beyond Neptune, which is 30 times more distant from the sun than Earth. Because the object takes an incredibly lengthy 25,000 years to complete one orbit around the sun, it's only detectable at certain times. Cheng discovered the object as part of an ongoing research project to identify TNOs and possible new planets in the outer solar system. The area beyond the Kuiper Belt, where the object is located, has previously been thought to be empty, but the team's discovery suggests otherwise. "2017 OF201 spends only 1 percent of its orbital time close enough to us to be detectable. The presence of this single object suggests there could be another hundred or so other objects with similar orbits and sizes; they are just too far away to be detectable now," Cheng said. He added: "Even though advances in telescopes have enabled us to explore distant parts of the universe, there is still a great deal to discover about our own solar system." Read the original article on Martha Stewart
