The Role of Mitochondrial DNA in 3-Parent IVF Babies: What Does It Mean for DNA Testing and Forensics?

Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), known as “three-parent IVF,” allows children to be born free of inherited mitochondrial disease—but with DNA from three individuals. While this is a triumph for reproductive medicine, it also complicates DNA testing and forensics. As an mtDNA aficionado, I break down the science what this means for the future of forensic DNA testing.