UK MPs approve laws on three-parent babies

British MPs have voted in favour of the creation of babies with DNA from two women and one man, in a historic move.

The UK is now set to become the first country to introduce laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. During the debate, ministers said the technique was "light at the end of a dark tunnel" for families.

A further vote is required in the House of Lords. It everything goes ahead then the first such baby could be born next year.

Proponents said the backing was "good news for progressive medicine" but critics say they will continue to fight against the technique that they say raises too many ethical and safety concerns.

Estimates suggest 150 three-person babies could be born each year.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We're not playing god here, we're just making sure that two parents who want a healthy baby can have one."

The technique involves cells from the father, the mother and a female donor, via a modified version of IVF to combine the DNA of the two parents with the healthy mitochondria of the donor. It results in babies with 0.1% of their DNA from the second woman and is a permanent change that would be passed down through the generations.

Defective mitochondria are passed down only from the mother's DNA and can lead to brain damage, muscle wasting, heart failure and blindness.