Healthy babies born after scientists used DNA from three people to avoid genetic disease

By rahmat hidayat

Jumat, 18 Juli 2025

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07.18.25

There is new research that gives parents even more reasons to limit their own social media use. I'll talk more about that below, and give you some great resources that can help you and your family spend less time on your screens. But first, here are the top health stories of the week.

— Sanjay

Healthy babies born in Britain after scientists used DNA from three people to avoid genetic disease

Researchers in Britain say eight healthy babies have been born by way of an experimental technique that uses DNA from three people to help mothers avoid passing along devastating rare diseases.

DNA is mostly found in the nucleus of our cells. But some DNA can also be found outside of the nucleus, in structures called mitochondria, and changes or mutations to the DNA there can cause a range of dangerous diseases in children.

Researchers reported in 2023 that the first babies had been born using a method in which genetic material from the mother's egg or embryo is transferred into a donor egg or embryo that has healthy mitochondria but the rest of its key DNA removed. The embryo thus has DNA from three people: from the mother's egg, the father's sperm and the donor's mitochondria.

Scientists said this week that they performed the new technique in fertilized embryos from 22 patients, which resulted in eight babies who appear to be free of mitochondrial diseases. One woman is still pregnant.

This procedure is allowed in the UK thanks to a 2016 law change, but it's not available in many other countries, including the US.

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'A national movement': More than a dozen states consider laws around menopause care and training for doctors

There's a new wave of interest in improving menopause care in the United States — it's in books, on podcasts and dominating social media hashtags — and it's even generating new legislation across more than a dozen states.

From New York to California, lawmakers are weighing whether to support more menopause training for clinicians or mandate comprehensive insurance coverage for menopause treatment. Advocates of such legislation argue that these changes could improve access to care and reduce the risk that menopause symptoms will be dismissed by providers.

Most of the legislation is related to insurance coverage for menopause care, awareness and education, clinician training or menopause in the workplace.

Popularity of nicotine pouches is soaring. So are ingestions by young children

Nicotine pouches are a fast-growing source of nicotine poisoning in young children, according to a new study.

Researchers analyzed more than 134,000 cases of children under 6 who accidentally ingested nicotine through products like vapes, gums, and lozenges. Most types of exposures fell after 2016. But one delivery method — nicotine pouches — shot up, rising more than 760% between 2020 and 2023.

The discreet, sweet and smokeless nature of nicotine pouches has raised concerns among public health advocates, who are closely watching their rising popularity among teens and young adults.

Saving Superman: Shelter hopes story of dog saved from Texas flood debris will now help save others

Krypto the Superdog may steal the show in the new "Superman" movie, but it's a dog named Superman who's stealing the hearts of animal lovers across the country.

Flooding in Central Texas left miles and miles of destruction and more than 130 people dead. Some residents escaped with their pets, but many did not have enough time to grab their animals as they fled.

It appeared that although emergency workers were able to get most of his family out, Superman stayed put. Rescuers found him atop the debris pile that had been his home.

"He was a part of a family that, as the water was rising, a family member was trying to save the family," said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, president and CEO of the nonprofit shelter Austin Pets Alive! "From what we understand, the owner pulled him out of the water and saved him, but then sadly, his owner died."

Superman is a good dog, she says, especially after what he endured and for what he's doing now to raise awareness about recovering after a disaster.

Better health for your whole body can be broken down into just seven factors. Here's how to transform your health from head to toe.

But wait, there's more!

RFK Jr. and other Trump officials embrace psychedelics after FDA setback
WHO recommends twice-a-year HIV prevention shot as concern looms over funding for global HIV fight
More than 14 million children worldwide have never received a single dose of any vaccine, new report warns
Increasing your walking cadence can improve mobility
Sugar, sex and your health: The connection you might be ignoring

Chasing Life

From Dr. Sanjay Gupta —

We've all been there: Your family has just sat down for dinner, and you're trying to spend some quality time together. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you notice someone on their phone, scrolling on social media.

But the thing is, this habit isn't exclusive to children. Parents are guilty of it, too.

Now there's research suggesting that social media can affect your interactions with your kids even when you're not on your screen in front of them.

The researchers found that moms who were in the high-use category (with an average of 169 minutes of social media per day) spoke to their kids 29% less while playing with them than moms who were in the low-use category (an average of 21 minutes of social media per day).

Caveat: This research has not been peer-reviewed or published in a professional journal yet. But it's not necessarily surprising, and study author Liz Robinson, a doctoral student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, points out how damaging this can be.

"Kids are acutely aware of where a parent is looking," Robinson said, "and they learn what's important. So when our gaze is constantly going towards a device, towards a smartphone, well, we're communicating to our children what's important in that moment, too."

Robinson suggests that parents set aside time every day to give their kids undivided attention. "Our attention is one of the best things that we can give to our children," Robinson said.

You should also try to cut back on social media.

Start with a gut check. Most phones track screen time and time spent on certain apps. You may be spending a lot more time staring at your phone than you think.

Then it's time for a digital detox. You may remember that we did an entire season on social media and screens for my "Chasing Life" podcast. I find that these episodes can be a good reminder of how to reset when you've been on your phone too much.

Here are some of my favorites episodes from that season:

Sanjay sits down with researcher and clinical therapist Eric Garland to explore how mindfulness meditation can be as effective as opioids in treating chronic pain — without any of the side effects. They break down the science behind how leaning into pain, rather than avoiding it, can actually rewire the brain and provide lasting relief.

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