Reproduction Reborn: How Science, Ethics, and Law Shape Mitochondrial Replacement Therapies

Mitochondrial replacement therapies (MRT) represent the most recent advancement in assisted reproductive technologies, allowing some women with mitochondrial diseases to birth for the first time-babies without those diseases. MRT, however, are not without controversy: DNA is intentionally changed, and resulting babies have DNA from three people. Additionally, the change to DNA is considered germline therapy in some countries and is therefore banned. With MRT prohibited in some countries but commercially available in multiple other jurisdictions, policymakers and other key stakeholders are faced with questions about the legal and ethical challenges surrounding MRT and the rights and responsibilities of parents and donor mothers, MRT's use to address broader problems of infertility, and issues surrounding the notions of family. This edited volume draws together leading experts from across the world and various disciplines to explore the novel legal, ethical, and policy questions posed by MRT, along with the broader societal and governance implications.