London, Thanasis Gavos

The first birth of an infant conceived through IVF using the DNA of three people confirmed at United Kingdom.

Most genetic material comes from both parents and almost 0.1% comes from a single donor.

The purpose of this particular technique, known as MDT, is to prevent the mother from passing on incurable mitochondrial diseases to the fetus, which could cost the newborn’s life within days or even hours of birth.

Doctors fertilize the mother’s egg with the defective mitochondrial DNA with the father’s sperm. Then the egg nucleus containing the genes of both parents is inserted into an egg with healthy mitochondrial DNA donated by the other woman.

The healthy embryo that is formed is finally implanted in the mother’s uterus. In this way the infant has three genetic parents.

This technique was developed by researchers in Newcastle and since 2015 its use is allowed by British legislation.

However, the technique was first used in other countries, starting in the US in 2016.

According to the UK’s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority fewer than five babies have been born using this technique in Britain.

Confirmation of the use of the technique was made following a request by the Guardian newspaper for the release of relevant information.