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

Rush Limbaugh Speaks Passionately About His 'Personal Relationship with Jesus' While Giving a Health Update

'The Touch of God': Greg Laurie Back in the Pulpit, John Hagee Recovering from 'COVID Pneumonia'

US Director of National Intelligence Says Alleged Hunter Biden Laptop Emails Not Russian Disinformation

'Cheers' Star Kirstie Alley Says She's Voting for Trump's Re-Election: 'He's Not a Politician'

[Watch] This Self-described "Life-long Democrat" Explains Why He is Now Voting Republican

Court Upholds Kentucky Pro-Life Law Protecting Women from 'Unsanitary' Abortion Clinics

3 Inconvenient Truths '60 Minutes' Forgot to Mention in Its Story on California Wildfires and Climate Change

Arizona Woman Battling Cancer Receives Act of Kindness from Stranger: 'Best Thing That's Happened'

Netanyahu to Christians: You're Champions of Truth ... Sooner or Later Everyone Will See It

President Trump Quietly Puts Cash in Offering Plate during Church Service

San Francisco Free Speech Rally Shut Down 'Within Minutes' after Counter-'Protesters' Violently Attack Trump Supporters

Report: At least 118 Seattle Police Officers Have Left the Department in a Mass Exodus

The Cost of Bidenomics: New Study on Biden's Tax, Health-Care, Energy and Regulation Proposals Predicts $6,500 Less in Median Household Income By 2030

Joel Pollak: Unlike Democrats, 'Trump Preserved American Freedom' during Coronavirus Pandemic

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Tweets She's Now Clear of COVID

Science Can't Explain: Boy Gravely Ill For 11 Years, Miraculously Healed after Prayer

Dueling Presidential Town Halls: What the Candidates Said About Court-Packing, Trans Kids and More

Trump Explicitly Denounces White Supremacy, Savannah Guthrie Accuses Him of Dodging the Question

Biden Says He Backs Transgender Rights for 8-Year-Olds: 'I Will Flat Out Just Change the Law'

2 With Biden Campaign Test Positive for COVID-19; Harris Cancels Campaign Events