Lawmakers OK 3-parent babies

Britain has become the first country to allow the creation of human embryos from the DNA of three people, a technique intended to help mothers avoid passing on genetically degenerative diseases such as muscular dystrophy to their babies.

The bill allowing the controversial technique - which critics say will lead to "designer babies" - was passed on Tuesday by the House of Lords, after being approved earlier this month by the House of Commons.

The treatment, called mitochondrial transfer, is known as "three-parent" in vitro fertilization because the babies, born from genetically modified embryos, will have DNA from a mother, a father and from a female donor.