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[Editors Note: The source article for this story appears to have been extensively edited replacing 'gene line' with 'germ line'. Nevertheless, and bearing that in mind, it is an interesting article.]
Heritable human genetic modifications pose serious risks, and the therapeutic benefits are tenuous, warn Edward Lanphier, Fyodor Urnov and colleagues.
It is thought that studies involving the use of genome-editing tools to modify the DNA of human embryos will be published shortly. There are grave concerns regarding the ethical and safety implications of this research. There is also fear of the negative impact it could have on important work involving the use of genome-editing techniques in somatic (non-reproductive) cells.
In our view, genome editing in human embryos using current technologies could have unpredictable effects on future generations. This makes it dangerous and ethically unacceptable. Such research could be exploited for non-therapeutic modifications. We are concerned that a public outcry about such an ethical breach could hinder a promising area of therapeutic development, namely making genetic changes that cannot be inherited.
http://www.nature.com/news/don-t-edit-the-human-germ-line-1.17111
Would you agree with this assessment? Should this technology be regulated? Once the technique is known, how can we control/monitor what scientists do with this technology?
(Score: 2) by TLA on Tuesday March 17 2015, @07:22PM
Who wants a designer baby? I thought the whole point of science was to further our understanding of our place in the universe, not pretty up our public image with a bright blue eyed, blonde haired plastic spray-tanned "Me 2.0"... but shallow is as shallow does, I suppose.
[rest of comment deleted as it runs pretty emotionally charged]
Excuse me, I think I need to reboot my horse. - NCommander
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2015, @09:09PM
Why stop at eyes and hair? We can further our understanding loads better with extra limbs n stuff
(Score: 2) by TK on Wednesday March 18 2015, @05:38PM
What if we could engineer an aneurism-resistant Einstein, or a bullet proof Ghandi?
The fleas have smaller fleas, upon their backs to bite them, and those fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum