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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Japan has approved gene editing using a fertilised human egg FUTURISM/ScienceAlert A Japanese government bioethics panel has approved the modification of genes from fertilised human egg cells for basic research. They did so just last week, on Friday April 22. However, they rejected clinical testing of gene modification technology, citing unknown and possibly harmful impacts on the next generation. Clinical trials of gene editing technology, which involve correcting genetic defects and putting the egg back into the womb, carry too many risks and potential detrimental effects on the offspring. So the eggs that are modified will not currently be brought to term. The bioethics panel agreed that researchers could use the technology and modify fertilised human eggs to find out the genes responsible for the early phase of growth. This could help them develop treatment for congenital diseases, and to improve technologies linked to reproduction. The panel also noted that there is a need to assess whether specific branches of inquiry absolutely require fertilised human eggs, and would be impossible to conduct without them. Notably, it is generally agreed by the experts that, at the present time, the use of human eggs and gene editing for non-medical purposes (such as modification for eye colour or the strengthening of muscles) presents a significant ethical problem. You can learn more about how human gene editing with CRISPR works in the video below: Japan is not the first country to approve gene editing, and in fact, actual tests that modify human genes have already been conducted. China shocked the world when it announced that its scientists conducted gene editing experiments on modified human embryos last year in April. Then, just a few weeks ago, Chinese scientists announced that they did it again, introducing HIV-resistance into the embryos (though the viability of this process remains to be seen). The UK seems to be next. A team of scientists in London received the first government approval in the world to edit the genomes of human embryos for research purposes. This article was originally published by Futurism. Read the original article. Poster Comment: Good move; better than waiting for evolution or God for improvements in human organism (during which time degradation might accelerate due to environmental pollution and contaminated food). Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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