28 Jun 2013 00:00

It is controversial due to fears over genetic engineering, but supporters claim only a tiny bit of DNA is changed

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Britain could become the first nation to allow babies to be born with three genetic parents, officials will announce today.

A landmark decision by the Department of Health opens the door to treatments for diseases that make use of donated DNA from a second donor mum.

New regulations to fertility law allowing the procedures will be issued for public consultation later this year and then debated in Parliament.

If MPs find them ethically acceptable the first patients could be treated within months.

Around 10 three parent babies could be born every year.

Allowing the currently illegal techniques would mark a turning point because it means altering the germ line made up of inherited DNA.

Experts say only the tiny amount of DNA in a cells battery packs - the mitochondria - would be changed.

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Britain set to allow babies to be born with THREE genetic parents in world first

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