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The human embryo editing study first reported by MIT Technology Review last week has been published in Nature. Scientists led by the Oregon Health & Science University's Shoukhrat Mitalipov edited human embryos to remove the MYBPC3 mutation associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:
The experiment corrected the defect in nearly two-thirds of several dozen embryos, without causing potentially dangerous mutations elsewhere in the DNA.
None of the embryos were used to try to create a baby. But if future experiments confirm the techniques are safe and effective, the scientists say the same approach could be used to prevent a long list of inheritable diseases. "Potentially, we're talking about thousands of genes and thousands of patients," says Paula Amato, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. She was a member of the scientific team from the U.S., China and South Korea.
[...] Amato and others stress that their work is aimed at preventing terrible diseases, not creating genetically enhanced people. And they note that much more research is needed to confirm the technique is safe and effective before anyone tries to make a baby this way. But scientists hoping to continue the work in the U.S. face many regulatory obstacles. The National Institutes of Health will not fund any research involving human embryos (the new work was funded by Oregon Health & Science University). And the Food and Drug Administration is prohibited by Congress from considering any experiments that involve genetically modified human embryos.
Nevertheless, the researchers say they're hopeful about continuing the work, perhaps in Britain. The United Kingdom has permitted genetic experiments involving human embryos forbidden in the United States. "If other countries would be interested, we would be happy to work with their regulatory bodies," says Shoukhrat Mitalipov, director of the Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy.
Also at NYT, MIT, BBC, Science Magazine, and Scientific American.
Correction of a pathogenic gene mutation in human embryos (open, DOI: 10.1038/nature23305) (DX)
Previously: First Known Attempt at Genetically Modifying Human Embryos in the U.S. is an Apparent Success
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday August 04 2017, @04:07AM (3 children)
I don't think it will be much different than the income inequality problem. If your parents are multi-millionaires or billionaires (maybe trillionaires in a few decades?) and if they don't live a humble lifestyle or withhold money from their kids like Warren Buffett does, then you have it made in life. You have probably interacted with some of these people. They have the opportunity to have better educations, get good jobs without needing to do work, can control industries to keep small businesses small, bribe cops and politicians, and get away with murder in some cases. Having kids that are 10% smarter or a bit more attractive could aid in preserving the dynasty and increase the wealth pile, but it's just adding a little insult to injury at that point. Super enhanced persons are not needed for a blood bath since that could already be coming if automation kills jobs but universal basic income is slow to follow.
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(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday August 04 2017, @04:24AM (2 children)
Bloody riots can be quick. And if those are enhanced with smart middle class people that can turn nasty.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday August 04 2017, @04:45AM (1 child)
Income inequality and unemployment will be what sparks riots, not mere genetic enhancements.
IQ genetic enhancement is estimated to only have a modest impact of a few points (environmental factors also matter, which are already in favor of the rich) based on the "intelligence genes" that are currently known (or suspected). It won't create a middle class Sun Tzu tactical genius that leads the poor and downtrodden to victory (oh man, that's kind of like Code Geass hahah). I'm not sure if the poor would defeat the rich with sheer numbers or if the rich will stave off resistance with a combination of bread 'n' circuses, captive government, superior firepower, or creating distance between themselves and the riffraff (think of seasteads, the film Elysium, or just rich hoods and cities with police under their thumb and additional private security).
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(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday August 04 2017, @11:41AM
The point is that sufficient inequality will spark riots. And automation, AI and genetic enhancement may be what pushes the inequality enough to have never before seen riots. And people that go hungry or have no hope will have too little to loose.