clipped from: www.abc.net.au   
Ben Hirschler

Scientists have created human embryos with three parents in a development they hope could lead to effective treatments for some hereditary diseases.

embryo
An experimental technique that uses spare IVF embryos could one day be used to treat mitochondrial disease, UK scientists say. But not everyone's so sure this is the answer to curing such serious, hereditary conditions

Researchers from the UK's Newcastle University, presented their findings at the recent Medical Research Council Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases conference in London.

The IVF embryos were created using DNA from one man and two women.

The idea is to prevent women with faults in their mitochondrial DNA passing diseases on to their children.

Around one in 5000 children suffer from mitochondrial diseases, which can include fatal liver, heart and brain disorders, deafness, muscular problems and forms of epilepsy.

researchers believe they may be able to start offering the technique as a treatment in three to five years.