Great Britain is now the first country in the world to approve genetically modified children with DNA from three parents.
The vote in the House of Commons was 328 in favor and 128 against the process that scientists say would stop genetic diseases from being passed from a mother to the child. The pro-genetic modification crowd said it was a “light at the end of a dark tunnel” for many families.
The bill now moves to the House of Lords for approval. If the House of Lords approve the measure the first genetically modified babies could be born in 2016. Estimates say 150 modified babies could be born each year.
Prime Minister David Cameron tried to quell criticism of the process.
“We’re not playing god here, we’re just making sure that two parents who want a healthy baby can have one,” the PM said.
Critics were quick to point out no one can know the future of this process.
“This will be passed down generations, the implications of this simply cannot be predicted,” MP Fiona Bruce said. “But one thing is for sure, once this alteration has taken place, as someone has said, once the gene is out of the bottle, once these procedures that we’re asked to authorize today go ahead, there will be no going back for society.”