U.K. Sees Birth of First Babies Created Using Experimental Three-Person DNA Technique

The United Kingdom has seen the birth of its first babies created using an experimental technique combining DNA from three people. This technique was adopted in 2015 in an effort to prevent the children from inheriting rare genetic diseases.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) confirmed that fewer than five babies have been born this way in the U.K. but did not provide further details to protect the families’ identities.

The technique, known as mitochondrial donation, is used to prevent genetic defects that can result from faulty mitochondria, the energy source in a cell. It involves replacing the faulty mitochondria in a mother’s egg with healthy mitochondria from a donor egg.

The HFEA said that the technique has been used in the U.K. since 2015, and that it has been rigorously tested and regulated to ensure its safety and effectiveness. The regulator also said that the technique has been used in other countries, including the United States.

The HFEA said that the technique is only used in cases where the mother is at risk of passing on serious genetic diseases to her children. It also said that the technique is not used to create designer babies or to alter the characteristics of the baby.