‘Three parent’ Newcastle University medical technique is given go ahead by House of Lords

A pioneering medical technique developed in Newcastle to create babies using DNA from three different people has been given the final go-ahead.

The House of Lords passed the amendment to the 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act and permit the controversial procedure, aimed at preventing serious inherited mitochondrial diseases.

It means the UK has become the first country in the world to legalise the creation of IVF babies using the technique.

The mitochondrial transfer technique has been developed by medics at Newcastle University, and its research was partly inspired by a North East family, who today welcomed the result.

MPs, including all three main party leaders, voted earlier this month in the Commons to legalise the technique, which critics have claimed will lead to three-parent babies.

The new method - which was legalised in June 2013 would take genetic material from a mother, father and a donor woman to prevent deadly diseases.

Now, the first baby conceived with the Tyneside treatment could be born as early as next year.

Opponents, including church leaders and pro-life groups, have warned that the change has been brought about too hastily and marked the start of a slippery slope towards designer babies and eugenics.

The House of Lords voted by 280 to 48, majority 232, on a free vote to throw out a move to block regulations introducing mitochondrial donation techniques after an impassioned debate lasting nearly four hours.

MPs, including all three main party leaders, voted earlier this month in the Commons in support of the pioneering techniques, which will now be legalised following Lords approval.

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'Three parent' Newcastle University medical technique is given go ahead by House of Lords