Britain is set to become the first country in the world to offer “three parent baby” fertility treatments after regulators signaled positively.
The technique uses DNA from two women and a man. It allows mothers who carry disease causing mutations in their mitochondrial genes to give birth to children who are rid of illness.
British lawmakers have voted in February to permit the treatment, which uses in-vitro fertilisation but clinics needed to obtain licenses from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
An expert panel has said the practice should be cautiously adapted to stop genetic diseases from being passed on to future generations.
Mitochondria is a structure in the cells which generates vital energy and contains its own set of genes called mDNA passed through the mother. Mitochondrial diseases cause symptoms ranging from poor vision to muscle wasting and diabetes.
Health officials estimate that around 125 babies are born with mutations in Britain each year.
The first baby conceived using mitochondrial donation was born in 2016 in Mexico where there are no rules on its use.
Britain was the first to officially authorise it.
Critics have warned that the move paves the way for designer babies.
The treatment involves the embryo receiving the usual nuclear DNA from the mother and the father as well as small amount of healthy mitochondrial DNA from a female donor.
British review panel recommended its clinical use in specific circumstances where inheritance of the disease is likely to lead to death or serious diseases and there are lack of acceptable alternatives.
The first woman could receive treatment at the research centre in Newcastle.
