Gene Editing of Human Embryos – More Ethical Questions to Answer
        
            By Dr Calum MacKellar, 
                BioNews
             | 05. 11. 2015
        
                    
                                    
                    
                                                                                                                                    
                                                                            
                              
    
  
  
    
  
          
  
      
    
             
  Untitled Document 
  
The short article by Robin Lovell-Badge entitled 'Editing human embryos' (see BioNews 799) addressing the work of Junjiu Huang and colleagues in China (1) on gene editing in human embryo - such as the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system - raises a number of ethical questions (2). In this procedure, variants of genes are edited by removing or inserting genetic material into a developing     embryo in order to see whether this could address a genetic disorder.
 
  However, before such gene editing can be used in human   reproduction, a   number of biomedical challenges need to be addressed.   For example,   inserting or deleting specific DNA in the right place of the genome of a developing embryo without     upsetting the biological equilibrium of cell is a difficult operation. A     given gene may influence a number of different characteristics, which     means that even if it were modified to influence a one dysfunction,   this   might give rise to unexpected consequences elsewhere. The overall     result could be a modification that is actually harmful (3).
  Read more... 
 
 
  
 
    
    
  
   
                        
                                                                                
                 
                                                    
                            
                                  
    
  
  
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