Human genome editing: ensuring responsible research
By Editorial,
The Lancet
| 03. 18. 2023
In 2018, during the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing in Hong Kong, Jiankui He shocked the world by announcing the birth of two children whose genomes he had edited using CRISPR technology. Following widespread condemnation and a criminal investigation, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison. The case caused international outcry and brought to the fore the need to reconsider the serious ethical, scientific, and social issues of heritable human genome editing. As science advances, especially in non-heritable, somatic gene editing for treatment of previously incurable diseases, regulatory gaps are becoming exposed. Governance of gene editing research was a major discussion point at the Third International Human Genome Editing Summit in London, on March 6–8, with widespread recognition for the need to build on existing guidelines to develop global standards for governance and oversight of human genome editing. As He's unconscionable actions showed, the ethical and scientific risks are substantial.
Gene editing regulations must consider the aims and consequences of the different practices involved. Somatic genome editing interventions (eg, targeted therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T... see more
Related Articles
"Human Egg" by euthman is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
In late April, the National Academies held a three-day workshop on
In Vitro Derived Human Gametes as a Reproductive Technology. Experts from a broad range of fields commented on the fast-developing science, its potential applications in assisted reproduction, and its social implications. Despite a focus on the significant technical challenges that remain in developing these techniques and the notable inclusion of several critical voices, the overall...
By Ian Sample, The Guardian | 05.09.2023
The first UK baby created with DNA from three people has been born after doctors performed a groundbreaking IVF procedure that aims to prevent children from inheriting incurable diseases.
The technique, known as mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT), uses tissue from...
By Carolyn Y. Johnson, The Washington Post | 04.28.2023
DACULA, Ga. — For as long as he can remember, Jimi Olaghere felt he was destined to be a father. “It’s so true in my soul,” he told his wife, Amanda, when they struggled to get pregnant. But when they...
By Kristine Thomason, Women's Health | 04.27.2023
At 22, Arianna W. was certain she wanted to freeze her eggs—one day.
It was 2016, and she was interning at Boston IVF Fertility Clinic, witnessing firsthand the spectrum of ways people were creating families. As a queer woman with...
