Three parent babies: IVF clinics told they can create children with two mothers

Sarah Knapton, science editor of The Telegraph writes today about three parent families.
The legal implications are, of course a minefield.
The fertility technique, which was developed by British scientists, allows doctors to replace an
egg’s defective mitochondrial DNA with healthy DNA from a female donor to prevent children
suffering debilitating conditions such as muscular dystrophy.

It is controversial because it would result in babies born with the DNA of three people -
and effectively, two mothers.

Yet despite concerns, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) today said the
procedure could go ahead when all other options, like screening, have proved futile.

IVF clinics can start applying for permission immediately and after gaining a licence, could
begin practising the new procedure early next year, with the first babies potentially being born
around Christmas 2017.

Newcastle University, which pioneered the technique said it would be submitting its application
for a licence within 24 hours. after lining up several women who already want the procedure. They
have also asked for healthy women under 35 years old to consider donating their eggs
for the treatment.

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