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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 Gravis on Tuesday March 17 2015, @09:19PM
the technology should only be regulated in the case of use on human DNA. the reason obviously being the legal status of a modified human is significantly greater than that of a more basic animal like a mouse. i would limit it to modifications with known outcomes. in other words, fixing a genetic defect is fine. trying to a set a wings to a kid, not so much. from what i can tell, a genome is a recursive algorithm which means that edits to it have wildly unpredictable and gruesome results.
bottom line: if you own genome is so fucked up that you want to edit what you pass on, you should really just adopt a child.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2015, @09:43PM
you should really just adopt a child
I think this applies to anyone wanting a kid but the reasoning behind why people don't adopt applies equally to those with fucked up genetics.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 18 2015, @12:04AM
Just try to stop me from genetically modfiying human embyros.