British MPs open the way for ‘three-parent’ babies

BRITAIN has become the first country in the world to allow the creation of babies with DNA from three people.

MPs at the House of Commons yesterday voted by 382 to 128, a majority of 254, in favour of allowing the creation of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) babies with DNA from three people.

The move is aimed at preventing serious inherited diseases being passed on from mother to child.

Under the change to the laws on IVF, as well as receiving the usual ‘‘nuclear’’ DNA from its mother and father, the embryo would also include a small amount of healthy so-called mDNA from a woman donor.

‘‘Families who know what it is like to care for a child with a devastating disease are best placed to decide whether mitochondrial donation is the right option for them,’’ said Jeremy Farrar, director of health charity Wellcome Trust.

‘‘We welcome this vote to give them that choice.’’

The bill is expected to be rubber-stamped by the House of Lords, the upper chamber of par- liament, later this month, paving way for the procedure to begin next year.

The change could apply to up to 2500 women of reproductive age in Britain with hereditary mitochondrial diseases, but opponents say it opens the way for the possibility of ‘‘designer babies’’ in future.

Mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) is passed through the mother and mitochondrial diseases cause symptoms ranging from poor vision to diabetes and muscle wasting.

Mitochondria are structures in cells which generate the energy that allows the human body to function.

Health officials estimate 125 babies are born with the mutations in Britain every year.