For many parents, the decision of when and if they will have a baby is influenced by biological factors outside of their control. Those suffering from inheritable genetic conditions face an especially difficult decision in terms of whether or not to conceive a child. For instance, a mother with mutated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) faces an increased possibility that her child will develop an incurable disease with devastating symptoms such as seizures, developmental delay, or organ failure.

University of Newcastle professor Mary Herbert provides parents with a new solution that helps to ensure that the mutations in a mother’s affected mtDNA isn’t passed on to her child. Watch Mary's 2017 TEDMED Talk to see how she is pushing the limits of our understanding of reproduction and looking toward a future where certain mitochondrial diseases can be eliminated from a family for generations to come.

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