Daijiworld Media Network- London

London, Jul 17: Eight healthy babies have been born in the United Kingdom using a groundbreaking IVF technique that involves DNA from three individuals, aiming to prevent the transmission of rare and life-threatening mitochondrial diseases. The births mark a major milestone in medical science, according to researchers.

The procedure, developed by scientists from Newcastle University and Monash University in Australia, transfers the genetic material from the mother’s egg into a donor egg that has healthy mitochondria but had its own nuclear DNA removed. The embryo is then fertilised with the father’s sperm and implanted in the mother. As a result, the baby inherits DNA from the mother, the father, and a small amount—less than one percent—from the female donor.

Mitochondria are tiny structures outside the cell nucleus that produce energy. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause severe health conditions in babies, including muscle weakness, seizures, and organ failure. The method used ensures that such defective mitochondria are replaced with healthy ones, offering a new possibility for affected families.

The law allowing this procedure was passed in the UK in 2016, making it one of the few countries to approve such techniques. Each case requires regulatory approval. Of the 22 patients treated using this method, eight have given birth, and one woman is currently pregnant.

One of the babies born showed slightly higher than normal levels of abnormal mitochondria, but scientists said it was not enough to cause disease. Experts noted that this technique is meant only for cases where standard embryo testing cannot rule out the risk of mitochondrial disease.

Doctors and researchers hailed the development as a remarkable achievement. However, they also urged caution, stressing the importance of long-term monitoring to understand the potential effects as these children grow up.

In countries like the United States, such procedures remain banned due to legal restrictions on genetic modifications that can be passed to future generations. Nonetheless, advocates believe the technique could offer new hope for families facing inherited mitochondrial disorders.