Wed Jul 16 22:03:56 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written from the perspective of *The Hindu*:
**The Hindu: Science For All**
**UK Breakthrough: Eight Children Born Free of Genetic Disease Using Three-Person IVF**
**LONDON, July 17, 2025** – In a groundbreaking development offering hope to families affected by debilitating mitochondrial diseases, researchers in the United Kingdom have announced the successful birth of eight healthy babies using a modified in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique involving DNA from three individuals. The technique, which has been the subject of both scientific excitement and ethical debate, aims to prevent mothers from passing on devastating rare genetic disorders linked to mitochondrial DNA.
Mitochondria, found outside the cell’s nucleus, contain DNA. Mutations in this DNA can cause a range of severe illnesses in children, including muscle weakness, seizures, organ failure, and even death. While traditional IVF can sometimes identify these mutations, the three-person IVF method offers a novel approach by utilizing healthy mitochondria from a donor egg.
The procedure involves transferring genetic material from the mother’s egg or embryo into a donor egg or embryo with healthy mitochondria, after the donor’s key DNA has been removed. According to researchers from Newcastle University and Monash University in Australia, who published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine, the technique was performed on fertilized embryos from 22 patients, resulting in eight successful births, with one woman currently pregnant.
While experts acknowledge that this is not a widespread solution, this technique offers a path forward for a small number of women. The technique requires regulatory approval in the UK, where, as of this month, 35 patients have been authorized to undergo the procedure.
The development represents a significant milestone for reproductive medicine, expanding options for couples seeking healthy pregnancies. However, the technique remains controversial and is not permitted in many countries, including the United States, due to regulatory restrictions on techniques that result in heritable changes to the embryo.
Liz Curtis, founder of the Lily Foundation, which supports families affected by mitochondrial disease, hailed the news as “super exciting” for families with limited hope. The research offers the promise of a future free from the devastating impact of these genetic disorders.
First Piper 