Three parent babies could be born in Britain as early as next year

The first ever baby in Britain with three genetic parents is expected to be born in 2015.

16:16 23 July 2014

A landmark proposal, which will prevent mothers from passing serious mitochondrial diseases to their children, has passed a crucial public consultation and will be put up in parliament for the final clearance.

The controversial IVF method is expected to get rid of defective mitochondria by transferring the nucleus of one egg cell to another egg cell bearing intact mitochondria. This essentially means that the baby will have three parents.

According to figures, 1 in every 6,500 children in the UK is born with serious mitochondrial DNA disorder every year.

The Department of Health said "plans to legalise use of these techniques to prevent mothers passing on serious mitochondrial diseases to their children are to progress.

“Fertility rules were changed by the government in February which paved the way for Britain becoming the first country in the world to allow mitochondrial replacement (MR) therapy. Ministers then launched a consultation on the move and have now issued their response".

Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the medical charity the Wellcome Trust, said: "As the government's latest consultation has again shown, there is broad public support for making mitochondrial replacement therapy available to patients.”
 
"There is now no excuse for the Government not to table regulations for debate as soon as Parliament returns this autumn, so that the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) can licence clinics to treat affected families without delay once it is satisfied that any risks are acceptable".