Genetic defects of the mitochondrial genome can be especially devastating to patients; moreover, attention on human mitochondrial disorders has grown remarkably in recent years. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is maternally inherited in most eukaryotes, with paternal mtDNA being eliminated from the embryo through a variety of mechanisms. Consequently, mtDNA mutations acquired in a woman's germline can impair fertility and/or lead to severe (and even fatal) diseases in her offspring. These issues are exacerbated as the age of the mother increases. In this review, we discuss the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction, aging, and fertility, as well as current practices for screening and diagnosing mitochondrial defects in preimplantation embryos. We also discuss recent developments in the use of mitochondrial replacement therapy to prevent the transmission of maternally-inherited mitochondrial diseases.

中文翻译：

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线粒体及其在人类生殖中的作用。

线粒体基因组的遗传缺陷对患者尤其具有破坏性。此外，近年来，对人类线粒体疾病的关注显着增加。线粒体DNA（mtDNA）在大多数真核生物中都是母体遗传的，而父系mtDNA是通过多种机制从胚胎中清除的。因此，在女性种系中获得的mtDNA突变会损害生育能力和/或导致其后代发生严重（甚至致命）疾病。随着母亲年龄的增长，这些问题更加恶化。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了线粒体功能障碍，衰老和受精之间的关系，以及目前筛选和诊断植入前胚胎中线粒体缺陷的实践。