[ad_1]
The Chinese government on Thursday ordered the shutdown of a medical team that claimed to have helped to make the first babies in the world with modified genes, while a group of prominent scientists said that it was still too early to attempt to make permanent changes to the DNA that could be inherited by future generations.
Xu Nanping, Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology, told CCTV state television that his ministry strongly opposed the team's efforts, which would have produced binoculars born more early this month. Xu called the team shares illegal and unacceptable, and said that an investigation had been ordered, but made no mention of specific actions undertaken.
The researcher He Jiankui claims to have altered the DNA of the twins to try to make them resistant to infection with the AIDS virus. The mainstream scientists have condemned the experiment, and universities and government groups are conducting research.
His experience "has crossed the line of morality and ethics to which the academic community adheres, and has been shocking and unacceptable," Xu said.
A group of leading scientists gathered this week in Hong Kong for an international conference on gene editing, the opportunity to rewrite the code of life to try to correct or prevent disease.
Although science is promising to help people already born and studies are underway, a statement released Thursday by the 14-member conference states that it's irresponsible to try eggs, sperm or embryos, except in the laboratory, because we do not know enough yet. about its risks or safety.
Claims still unconfirmed
The conference was shaken by the claim of the Chinese researcher that he contributed to the creation of the first baby in the world to be edited by a gene. The conference leaders called for an independent inquiry into the complaint of Mr. He, who spoke with the group on Wednesday against the rise of international criticism.
There is no independent confirmation of what he says he did. He was scheduled to speak again at the conference on Thursday, but left Hong Kong. Through the intermediary of a spokesman, he sent a statement in which he stated: "I will stay in China, my country of origin, and I will cooperate fully with all requests regarding my work My raw data will be made available to third parties. "
Several leading scientists said the case was a failure of the police on the ground and the need for stricter principles or regulations.
A microplate containing embryos injected with Cas9 protein, in a laboratory in Shenzhen on October 9th. (Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)
"It's not unreasonable to expect the scientific community to follow the guidelines," said David Baltimore, Nobel laureate of the California Institute of Technology, who led the panel.
Some rules should have already prevented what he said, said Alta Charo, a lawyer and bioethicist at the University of Wisconsin, and a conference organizer.
"I think the failure was his, not the scientific community," said Charo.
Gene editing for reproductive purposes may be considered in the future, "but only when there is a compelling medical need" and a clear understanding of the risks and benefits, as well as certain other conditions, Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the US National Academy of Medicine. one of the sponsors of the conference.
"Failure to follow these guidelines would be irresponsible," he said.
The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of the United Kingdom and the US National Academy of Sciences are other sponsors of the conference.
Source link
