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Advances in science have allowed the application of genetic engineering to plants, animals and even to the human being himself – although the genetic modification of embryos is a line that the man had not crossed. , a Chinese scientist claims to have helped create the first genetically modified babies – and has been criticized for challenging the ethics of his work. Last Thursday, he said that he was proud of what he had done.
Professor He Jiankui removed a DNA protein from the embryos of two twin sisters to prevent them from contracting the HIV virus.
He says he has done his work on the CCR5 protein without the knowledge of the university that he teaches, the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzen.
His studies involved eight couples, each one of them with an HIV-positive father and a seronegative mother
The researcher claims that there is still a second pregnancy involving a genetically modified embryo in the early stages of development
It has not yet provided scientific evidence of its discovery and
Future generations
The hope is that the future of science and technology the technology will continue to grow in the future, The genetic editing of the "germ line" – the modification of the DNA of an embryo that can become a person – can repair genetic mutations and to prevent diseases debilitating before they are transmitted.
Many countries prohibit this practice as a whole, which allows the use of genetic editing tools only on non-reproductive adult cells.
In the United Kingdom. For example, scientists can perform genetic editing research on rejected embryos for in vitro fertilization, but it is forbidden to let them develop on a fetus.
The Chinese government has requested the Opening an investigation to determine if he had broken a rule by relocating genetically engineered embryos into the womb of the woman in order to develop.
China's Minister of Science and Technology Technology says that she believes Yes Xu Nanping was "shocked" and told the official media that Professor He's experience is prohibited by Chinese law.
He said that, like other countries, China allows embryonic stem cell research for up to 14 years
"He is, however, proud to have changed the DNA of the twin sisters that, in his opinion, they are protected from the risk of acquiring HIV, even if they come into contact with the virus.
But at that time, the embryos were good health.
For Julian Savulescu, a specialist in bioethics at Oxford University, the experiment "exposes normal and healthy children to the risks of genetic modification in return for a healthy lifestyle." a useless benefit. "
Others argue that it is now possible to live with HIV in the body and that treatment can bring the virus to undetectable levels in the body.
Some scientists raise Specific issues on the elimination of the CCR5 gene from the twin body, may increase the risk of susceptibility to other diseases, such as West Nile virus and influenza.
"Gene editing is experimental and is always badociated with mutations that may cause genetic problems early or late in life, Savulescu
" We know very little about long-term effects, and most people with cancer, "said Yalda Jamshidi, a specialist in human genetics at St. George's University in London.
" I understand that my work will be controversial – but I believe that families must have children, this technology and I am willing to deal with criticism. "
Since CRISPR's genetic modification technology was put in the spotlight in 2012, many
CRISPR uses" molecular scissors "to modify a specific part of DNA by cutting , replacing
At the beginning of the year, American scientists used the technique of preventing liver failure
At the beginning of the year, US scientists used this technique to prevent Hepatic insufficiency.
Treatment had worked with rats after they were born – and researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA, showed that they could make this change even before the animals were born by modifying their genes, they said that "any translation" of their work on humans would involve "profound challenges."
Do you want to force us to conclude agreements on very complex ethical dilemmas
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