Question

It is possible for a baby to be born using ivf and a technique called somatic nuclear transfer. somatic nuclear transfer involves removal of a nucleus from a donor egg and reinsertion of the nucleus from the mother to be. then the new egg is fertilized by the father's sperm. remembering that mitochondrial dna can also be found in an egg, how many "genetic" parents would this baby have?

Answer 1

The answer is there (3). This is because a mitochondrion has it own DNA called mitochondrial DNA. Therefore the three genetic materials from different parents (mitochondria from donor mother, DNA from biological mother and DNA from biological father) would be present in the baby. Somatic nucleus transfer is the medical procedure used when the biological mother has mitochondria disorder which she would not wish to pass to her offsprings (which are inherited maternally).