'Three-parent baby' treatment given go-ahead in UK

Britain has become the first country to formally licence an advanced form of IVF treatment designed to create babies from three people.

In a long-awaited decision, Britain’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) gave the final go-ahead for the treatment known as mitochondrial transfer, which doctors say could help prevent children being born with deadly genetic diseases.

The treatment is known as “three-parent” IVF because the babies, born from genetically modified embryos, would have DNA from a mother, a father and from a female donor.

Scientists at the University of Newcastle, which has pioneered the therapy, say they already have women lined up to receive it. The team aims to help 25 couples every year.

SOURCE: euronews