Dhaka, July 18 -- In a major scientific breakthrough, eight healthy babies have been born in the UK using a pioneering IVF technique that reduces the risk of mothers passing on mitochondrial DNA diseases. The successful births, announced Wednesday as part of a world-first trial, mark a new era in reproductive medicine.

The babies-four girls and four boys, including a set of identical twins-were born to seven women who carried harmful mutations in their mitochondrial DNA, which can cause debilitating or fatal conditions such as impaired vision, diabetes, and muscle wasting. These disorders affect about one in every 5,000 births and currently have no cure.

Developed by researchers at Newcastle University and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospit...