Mitochondria variants battle for cell supremacy

DNA features give some organelles advantage in 3-parent baby procedures

needle with spindle and egg

BATTERY SWAP A technique to suck a chromosome-containing structure called the spindle (white, in needle) out of a mother’s egg and place it in a donor egg emptied of its chromosomes but with healthy mitochondria can help prevent mitochondrial diseases.

Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy/OHSU

Some mitochondria naturally have an advantage over others in the battle for cellular domination, a new study shows.