House of Lords set to vote of three-parent babies

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After more than three hours of debate, the House of Lords this evening voted to approve an amendment to the 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

The amendment will permit the use of controversial procedures, aimed at preventing serious inherited mitochondrial diseases.

The treatment called mitochondrial transfer has also become known as "three-parent" in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

This is because the babies, born from genetically modified embryos, would have DNA from a mother, a father and from a female donor.

It is designed to help families with mitochondrial diseases, incurable conditions passed down the maternal line that affect around one in 6,500 children worldwide.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "Parliament's decision will bring hope to hundreds of families affected by mitochondrial disease.

"We are proud to be the first country to allow these revolutionary techniques.

"For the first time ever, women who carry severe mitochondrial disease will have the opportunity to have healthy babies without the fear of passing on devastating genetic disorders."

Critics have pointed out no clinical trial has taken place to show conclusively that the treatments are safe in humans.

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House of Lords set to vote of three-parent babies