UNITED KINGDOM — In a groundbreaking in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure, doctors have successfully created the first baby in the UK using DNA from three people.

The technique, known as mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT), aims to prevent children from inheriting incurable diseases by using healthy tissue from female egg donors.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority confirmed that fewer than five babies have been born in the UK through this method, keeping the families’ identities protected. The achievement was initially reported by The Guardian newspaper.

The UK took the lead in 2015 by becoming the first country to introduce legislation governing methods to prevent the transmission of faulty mitochondria from mothers to their babies.

The announcement of the world’s first baby using mitochondrial donation came from doctors in the U.S. after the treatment was conducted in Mexico.

Genetic defects in mitochondria, which serve as the energy source in cells, can lead to conditions such as muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, heart problems, and intellectual disabilities.

Approximately one in 200 children in Britain is born with a mitochondrial disorder. Currently, 32 patients have received authorization for mitochondrial donation treatment.

For women with faulty mitochondria, scientists extract genetic material from their eggs or embryos. This genetic material is then transferred into a donor egg or embryo that has healthy mitochondria but has had its remaining key DNA removed.

The resulting fertilized embryo is subsequently transferred into the mother’s womb. The genetic material from the donated egg accounts for less than 1% of the child created through this technique.

The UK fertility regulator stated that mitochondrial donation treatment offers families affected by severe inherited mitochondrial illnesses the possibility of having a healthy child.

While it is still early days, the regulator hopes that the scientists involved, from Newcastle University, will soon publish further details about the treatment.

In the UK, women seeking this treatment must obtain approval from the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.

The regulator says that to be eligible, families must have no other available options for avoiding passing on genetic disease.

Critics of these artificial reproduction techniques argue that alternative methods, such as egg donation or screening tests, can help avoid passing on diseases to children and question the safety of these experimental approaches.

There are concerns that manipulating the genetic code in this manner may lead down a slippery slope toward designing babies for specific traits, including enhanced physical attributes or intelligence.

Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell expert at the Francis Crick Institute, emphasized the importance of monitoring the long-term development of these babies.

It is crucial to assess the effectiveness of the mitochondrial donation technique in preventing mitochondrial disease and any potential risks for later-life problems.

Recent European research has revealed that in some cases, a small number of abnormal mitochondria carried over from the mother’s egg to the donor’s can reproduce during fetal development, potentially leading to a genetic disease.

Understanding the reasons behind these issues and developing methods to reduce the associated risks will be key.

Earlier research on a different technique involving three genetic contributors, including an egg donor, demonstrated positive outcomes, with children thriving as teenagers and showing no signs of unusual health issues or academic setbacks.

This groundbreaking IVF procedure offers hope to families affected by mitochondrial disorders, paving the way for a future where genetic diseases can be prevented, and healthy children can be born into families who otherwise have limited options.

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