The child was conceived using in vitro fertilization, or IVF, in Mexico.

The three-parent procedure is illegal in the United States. But American Dr. John Zhang, a reproductive endocrinologist at New Hope Fertility Center in New York City, and the participants went to Mexico because "there are no rules" there, Zhang reportedly told New Scientist.

Zhang combined DNA from three people, a man and two women because the mother had a potentially fatal flaw in her DNA. She carries a gene for Leigh syndrome, a neurological disorder that typically becomes apparent in a child's first year of life and usually results in early death.

The mother already bore two children, both of whom were stricken with Leigh Syndrome. One died at age 6, the other died at six months of age. People who develop the syndrome rarely live past age 7. The mother also suffered four miscarriages.

While the mother herself does not have Leigh Syndrome, a gene for it resides in her DNA, specifically in her mitochondria, the portion of the cell that provides energy.

Zhang was able to use most of the mother's own DNA to make the new baby. That included the all-important nucleus. However, he did not use the mother's mitochondria because that contained the defective gene. Instead, he used the mitochondria from a donor egg. (Photo: Dr John Zhang/via New Hope Fertility Center)

Then he combined the portions of the two eggs with the father's sperm to create a healthy embryo, which was implanted in the mother's uterus.

The resulting child is not genetically one-third each parent, it's almost entirely made up of genetic material from its father and mother.

"If you look at the amount of DNA, it's almost like it's 2.001 parents rather than three. But it's DNA from three different people," CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus said.

Zhang says the baby has not shown any signs of illness so far. The child's mitochondria have been tested and less than 1 percent carries the mutation, believed to be too low a level to lead to disease.

Sian Harding, a medical professor and bioethics adviser who reviewed the ethics of the technique in the United Kingdom, told New Scientist the case seems to have been handled according to ethical standards.

The U.K. recently approved the procedure despite heated protests against it from people citing concerns about "designer babies" and "playing God."

Leading churches in Britain, both Protestant and Catholic, oppose the procedure on religious and ethical grounds.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Artemis II Mission Around the Moon Reminds All of Us to Look Up

Chick-fil-A Urges Families to Put Down Phones at the Dinner Table; You'll Get Free Ice Cream

Don't Be Fooled: Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Pills Look Just Like the Real Ones

Anti-ICE Activists Target Minnesota Church Again on Easter Sunday

Finnish Study Links Transgender Procedures to Decline in Youth Mental Health

Trump's Education Dept Tosses Title IX Agreements That Pushed 'Transgender Agenda' in Multiple Schools

Trump Confirms US Sent Guns to Iranian People, But the Kurdish Intermediary Kept Many of Them

'Disgusting Animals': Iran's Islamic Terrorist Regime Calls for People, Including Children, to Gather as Human Shields around Power Plants

Why the Resurrection of Jesus Is the Most Important Event in History

President Trump Cited the Gospel of John in an Easter Message to Christians Worldwide

Artemis Astronaut Offers Easter Thoughts About the Bible and God's Provision for Humans

School Suspends Student For Supporting ICE Agents, after Allowing a Protest Against ICE

The 'Moment California Has Been Waiting For'; Trump Endorses Steve Hilton for Governor

Boise Removes LGBT 'pride' Flag from City Hall Due to New Idaho Law

Democrats Sue Over Trump's Executive Order on Mail-in Ballots

'God Was Watching Us': Trump, Ratcliffe, Hegseth Detail 'Miracle' Rescue of Airmen during Press Conference; 2 Top Iranian Terrorists Killed

An Easter Miracle!! 2nd Crew Member from Downed Jet in Iran Rescued and Safely Extracted after Intense Race to Reach Him before IRGC Terrorists

PRAYER ALERT: US F-15 Fighter Jet Downed in SW Iran, 1 Pilot Rescued and Safe; Search Continues for Second One

Dutch Sheets: Good Friday Message & Communion

'I Began to Pray': Pastor Talks Down Crazed Man Who Points Gun Directly at Him, Leads 10 to Christ