Britain has moved a step closer to becoming the first country to allow the creation of babies with DNA from three different people after MPs overwhelmingly backed new legislation.
MPs voted in favour of mitochondrial donation techniques by 382 to 128 in the historic Commons vote.
A spokesman for the Wellcome Trust has said that the first child conceived using a mitochondrial donation could be born before the end of 2016.
He said the amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act could pass the House of Lords in a "couple of weeks". Several experiments must take place before the terms of application for a licence are set.
"Our estimate is that the first licence will be applied for in November this year, and the first baby might be born in 2016," he added.
MPs have voted in favour of a ground-breaking but controversial technique that could see IVF babies conceived with DNA from three people.
A vote on three-parent babies, taking place today, could determine paediatric nurse Rachel Steel's chances of having her own healthy kids.
The parents of a baby with a life-limiting disorder say their future happiness will be decided by today's three-parent family vote.