Can a baby who is in the womb of a surrogate mother receive any of her DNA? I know the baby would not receive genetic DNA, but what about mitochondrial DNA?
2007-08-11 07:43:37 · 6 answers · asked by danieloholic 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
This is possible. Read this article from the journal Critical Care Nurse (Vol.24, No. 3, June 2004).
http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/cgi/reprint/24/3/34.pdf
Here is a direct quote "...a surrogate mother can pass on her mitochondrial genes even when carrying a fetus
from a donated egg."
In Geoffrey S's response he says that some living cells from the surrogate mother would probably be transferred to the fetus. Well what are in these cells? Mitochondria. Yes. So, if this were the case, then mitochondrial DNA from the surrogate mother would be transferred to the fetus.
I also wanted to add a comment based on David's response. You said that the mitochondria from a surrogate mother do not enter the cells of the fetus. True. However, if it is possible that cells from the surrogate mother could be transferred to the fetus, then mitochndrial DNA has in affect entered the developing fetus.
2007-08-11 08:37:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. The baby is only getting nutrients from the surrogate mother. The baby will receive their DNA from the mother who provided the egg (and the baby will get this mother's mitochondrial DNA) and the father who provided the sperm.
2007-08-11 14:55:13 · answer #2 · answered by zundaf 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the baby already received mitochondrial DNA through the egg. speaking of an phoetus hatched into a host female /not genetical mother/ there might be a chance for contamination - the babies can suffer various infections, why not an accidental DNA exchange.
2007-08-11 15:29:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not possible. Mitochondrial DNA is not known to be gained by any method other than inheritance, the same exact way as cellular DNA. Mitochondria from a surrogate mother do not enter the cells of a developing fetus.
2007-08-11 14:53:42 · answer #4 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
The mitochondria in the mothers eggs are exactly the same as her own because they are from her. It is only very rarely that male mitochondrial DNA, from the sperm, expresses itself in the offspring. They are not the same as other DNA because they almost always come exclusively from the mother.
2007-08-11 16:37:56 · answer #5 · answered by bravozulu 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
David is correct, but some living cells from the surrogate mother would probably be transferred to the fetus during development. It's called microchimerism. Check out this link:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/uob-cpf012207.php
2007-08-11 14:58:19 · answer #6 · answered by Geoffrey S 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋