Eight healthy babies have been born in the UK using a groundbreaking three-person IVF technique. This method, approved in 2016, involves transferring a mother's genetic material into a donor egg with healthy mitochondria to prevent mitochondrial diseases. The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 22 patients, resulting in eight healthy babies and one ongoing pregnancy. While one baby showed slightly elevated levels of abnormal mitochondria, it's not considered disease-causing. Experts hail this as a significant advancement for families at high risk of transmitting mitochondrial diseases, although long-term monitoring is crucial. The technique is currently not permitted in many countries, including the US.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.