CRISPR experts call for moratorium on creation of gene-modified babies

Eighteen of the world's leading CRISPR researchers and bioethicists have called for a moratorium on clinical experiments using revolutionary technology to genetically alter human babies.

CRISPR, a powerful molecular tool for accurate and rapid genetic modification, was used to create the first babies in the world to be edited by a gene, born in a Chinese research program in November 2018. The head of this program, He Jiankui, ignored international recommendations using CRISPR to modify the DNA of three embryos that have been brought to term.

The revelation that genetically modified babies were born shocked the scientific community, sparking further debate on the regulations for "germ line modification" – the type that affects sperm, ova and embryos and can therefore cause changes that irreversibly alter the stock of human genes.

This led to the call for a global moratorium, published Wednesday in the preeminent Nature science journal, co-authored by CRISPR co-founder Emmanuelle Charpentier, pioneer Feng Zhang, and a number of renowned CRISPR scientists from whole world. The authors hasten to point out that a global moratorium would not mean a "permanent ban", but a temporary break in activities, which would establish an international framework governing the course of the amendment of the germ line.

This does not prevent scientists from using CRISPR for basic research purposes – scientists could still modify sperm, eggs and embryos as long as they are not used to create modified babies by a gene. Research on human cells unable to reproduce ("somatic gene editing") would not be included in the moratorium, nor would CRISPR research dealing with non-human problems, such as change the mosquitoes carrying malaria or chickens edited by gene.

Moratorium proposed Wednesday would begin with a five-year commitment not to allow all clinical use of germ line editing.

Experts say that germ line modification is "not yet safe or effective enough to warrant clinical use" and that the risks are still "unacceptably high". Four years ago, at the first International Summit on the Modification of the Human Genome, similar thinking led CRISPR researchers to the same conclusion, without asking for a moratorium.

Gaétan Burgio, a geneticist at the Australian National University, said Wednesday's renewed call for a moratorium "is in line with previous calls."

Accession to the moratorium would be voluntary for each nation, but for those who would choose to allow such experiments, they should give public notice of their intention and justify their activities by assessing "technical, scientific and medical considerations, as well as ethical, social and societal considerations. " and moral issues. "

Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, released a statement Wednesday on this topic.

"Research on the potential for altering the very biological essence of humanity raises profound questions of safety, ethics and philosophy," Collins wrote. "Until countries can adhere to the international guidelines for determining whether and under what conditions such research should ever be conducted, the NIH strongly believes that an international moratorium should be put into effect immediately. . "

However, even if the proposed moratorium is accepted, a number of challenges remain.

Burgio says in particular that it will require "a broad commitment from the community" and a "commitment from various entities and people to respect a moratorium". He believes that the moratorium will not prevent the "rogue" entities from operating in the space, much like He Jiankui had done to create the first gene-modified babies in the world. last year.