Babies Can Now Be Born With DNA From Three People

The phrase “three’s a crowd” doesn’t apply here – in fact, it might just save lives. Doctors in the UK have confirmed that eight babies have been born using DNA from three people to prevent devastating hereditary diseases. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s very real, very legal, and very hopeful.

The groundbreaking method, pioneered by UK scientists, takes the egg and sperm from mum and dad, and combines them with a second egg from a donor woman. The result? A baby who’s genetically related to their parents, but also carrying a tiny sliver of donor DNA – about 0.1% – that makes all the difference.

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Why bother with that 0.1%? It’s all about mitochondria, the tiny batteries inside our cells that keep us alive by converting oxygen into energy. Defective mitochondria cause mitochondrial disease, which can leave babies severely disabled and in some cases lead to death within days of birth. Around one in 5,000 babies are born with the condition. For families at risk, this technique offers a way to break the cycle.

“After years of uncertainty this treatment gave us hope – and then it gave us our baby,” one mother told the Newcastle Fertility Centre, where the procedures took place. Another said: “Thanks to this incredible advancement and the support we received, our little family is complete. The emotional burden of mitochondrial disease has been lifted, and in its place is hope, joy, and deep gratitude.”

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The science itself is fascinating. Both the mother’s and donor’s eggs are fertilised in the lab. When the early embryos form structures called pro-nuclei – carrying the blueprint for features like height and hair colour – doctors swap the parents’ DNA into the donor embryo containing healthy mitochondria. It’s essentially DNA rehoming, ensuring the baby inherits health alongside genetics.

So far, the results are promising. All eight children are free from mitochondrial disease and hitting their developmental milestones. One had epilepsy that cleared on its own, and another has an abnormal heart rhythm under treatment, but neither is linked to the mitochondria. “To see the relief and joy in the faces of the parents of these babies after such a long wait and fear of consequences, it’s brilliant to be able to see these babies alive, thriving and developing normally,” Prof Bobby McFarland told James Gallagher from the BBC.

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The UK was the first country to pass laws allowing this in 2015, sparking controversy over permanent changes to human DNA and fears of “designer babies.” But for families who’ve lost children, the focus isn’t on sci-fi scenarios – it’s on finally having a chance at healthy generations to come.

As Liz Curtis from the Lily Foundation put it: “After years of waiting, we now know that eight babies have been born using this technique, all showing no signs of mito. For many affected families, it’s the first real hope of breaking the cycle of this inherited condition.”