LONDON — An 11-month-old baby from Britain with a rare disorder is at the center of a legal battle, as his parents fight to stop his life support machine from being switched off. <br /> <br />Baby Charlie Gard has mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome and London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital says that no more can be done for him. <br /> <br />But his parents disagree and are arguing in court that their son should be allowed to go to the U.S. for treatment. A massive fundraising campaign has been launched for Charlie Gard, and the family has also received messages of support from President Donald Trump and Pope Francis. <br /> <br />Britain’s High Court was scheduled to hear fresh arguments about the case on Monday, the Guardian reported. <br /> <br />Mitochondrial DNA is found in the mitochondria, an organelle within cells. Most of these cells are responsible for respiration and energy production. <br /> <br />Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome occurs when affected tissues suffer a fall in mitochondrial DNA, for example, through a gene mutation, according to LiveScience. <br /> <br />Those with the condition do not receive enough energy in their muscles, kidneys or brain. This typically proves fatal in infants. <br /> <br />The condition is so rare that baby Charlie is reportedly one of of only 16 people to have ever had it. <br /> <br />A GoFundMe campaign raised more than US$1.6 million to get Charlie to the U.S. for treatment.
