¿China broke the taboo of the genetic modification of embryos … – BBC

Editor BBC

• April 24, 2015

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The aim of the researchers was corrected responsible for an inherited disease gene.

The first modification of human embryos in history, conducted by Chinese scientists has just triggered an intense debate about the limits of the genetic manipulation.

objective of the research team SunYat-sen University, Guanzhou, led by geneticist Jujnjiu Huang, was to correct the gene responsible for beta-thalassemia, an inherited blood disease and potentially fatal.

To do he used an advanced technique editing genes, called CRISPR, for the acronym for Reps palindromic Short Spaced each other and Agrupadas.

Allows altering faster, accurate and detailed any position of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the genome without mistakes or introduce mutations desired

See also:. The revolutionary technique that will tailor genes

The technique allows to alter faster, accurate and detailed any position of the 23 pairs genome chromosomes.

The therapy was discovered five years ago and has since been used successfully to correct adult human cells and embryonic cells of other species.

Without But human embryos does not seem so efficient.

At least not in the research developed by the team of Huang.

nonviable embryos

The researchers implemented in 86 embryos, of which 71 survived Could successfully edit 28 and only managed to correct the gene for beta-thalassemia in four of them.

Although the Scientists did not say whether the result is due to a problem with the technique or the embryos themselves, which were obtained from assisted reproduction centers.

The embryos used had an extra copy of chromosome in each cell, so there were they could develop normal fetus.

For ethical reasons, were not viable embryos; that is, they had an extra copy of chromosome in each cell, so that could not develop in them a normal fetus.

But whatever the reason for the result, “Our work illustrates the need to improve the CRISPR / Cas9 (…) technique before any clinical application, “concluded the researchers in the research, entitled Edition mediated gene CRISPR / Cas9 in human zygotes tripronucleares and published by the journal Protein & amp;. Cell

Before you offer it to this medium scientists had tried to publish the work in two journals most renowned, Nature and Science, but both rejected on ethical grounds.

“Our work illustrates the need to improve the CRISPR / Cas9 art (…) before any clinical application, “the researchers concluded.

These media last month published opinion pieces biomedical community leaders in calling for a moratorium on genetic manipulation of germ cells, such as eggs, sperm cells embryonic.

And after that came to light the study of scientists from the University SunYat-sen’s reviews have been added and the controversy has begun to sound louder.

A pro-moratorium

Most of those who have raised their voices insist on what the same researchers said. It is too early for clinical application

To this group belong Jennifer Doudna, scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, who developed the technique CRISPR: “The study emphasizes that the technique itself is not ready to be applied clinically in human germ cells.”

Critics of the use of the technique warn that changes in germ cells would be transmitted to future generations and the consequences are unpredictable today.

The Nobel Laureates David Baltimore and Paul Berg I share this view, as explained in the article, “we press ‘pause’ before altering humanity”, published in the daily The Wall Street Journal .

Both warn that changes in germ cells to subsequent generations would be transmitted and the consequences are unpredictable today.

In that sense, others are more blunt. “It (the study) emphasizes the need for immediate creation of genetically modified babies global ban,” says David King, director of Human Genetics Alert British organization.

This refers to the late King they are not doctors, such as changing the physical appearance or intelligence of future generations.

Some cautions that could be used to modify the physical appearance or intelligence of future generations.

However, proponents of gene therapy insist that liberate mankind from inherited diseases.

In this view is the academic Julian Savulescu The chief editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics.

Professor at the University of Oxford, UK, believes that create so-called designer babies should be considered “a moral obligation “as they grow up to become” ethically better children. ” This was defended in an article published in British version of the journal Reader’s Digest.