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WASHINGTON – A bipartisan trio of senators on Monday presented a resolution highlighting their opposition to the experiments in China last year, which led to the birth of the first babies in the world with a modified genome.
The resolution of Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) And Jack Reed (DR.I.) also reiterated his support to international groups working on the production of guidelines for the clinical use of the lineage germinal – meaning changes to the DNA in the sperm, eggs or early embryos that would be passed on to future generations.
If passed, the resolution will not change US law; The production of embryos for the purpose of creating children is already illegal in the United States. However, the action of senators is noteworthy, as some members of Congress recently expressed some openness to lifting the ban on modification of embryos used to start a pregnancy. Scientists from other countries have also announced their intention to continue these experiments. Some advocacy groups and patients have pointed out how germline modification, once the technology is improved, could avoid cases of genetic disease.
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"Gene editing is a powerful technology that could potentially lead to new treatments for previously incurable, devastating diseases," Feinstein said in a statement. "However, like any new technology, there is a risk of misuse. The international community must set standards for gene editing research to develop global ethical principles and to prevent unethical researchers from setting up in the country where the regulation is the least strict.
The resolution highlights the international commission created in May by the US National Academy of Medicine, the US National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of the United Kingdom. This commission is responsible for developing a framework that the scientific community can use when considering the potential clinical applications of germ line modification.
This is one of the many international efforts made in response to last year's announcement by the Chinese scientist He Jiankui that he had created the first "CRISPR babies" of the world: binoculars whose DNA had been modified by the publisher of the CRISPR genome while they were embryos. . Scientists around the world have condemned him for his ethical and technical failings in the pursuit of such work, claiming that the technology was not yet ready for clinical use.
Some scientists have called for a global moratorium on the clinical applications of germ line editing, but as the president of the National Academy of Medicine Victor Dzau told STAT last month, the new commissions are not allowed to arrest scientists from other countries. to undertake such work.
The Senate resolution would also encourage the Department of State to partner with international organizations to develop a global consensus on when germ line modification could be considered for clinical use.
"As we continue to develop innovative therapies to prevent and cure diseases, it's clear that gene editing has incredible potential," Rubio said in a statement. "However, there are dangerous and unethical ramifications if countries conduct unrestricted or unethical human experiments to advance the science of gene editing … It is essential that the United States is leading the way in creating ethical standards for gene editing research. "
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