A panel of the WHO calls for registration of all research on the editing of human genes

LONDON: It would be irresponsible for any scientist to conduct studies on genetic engineering in humans, and a central registry of research plans should be put in place to ensure transparency, experts said. World Health Organization, Tuesday, March 19th.

After its first two-day meeting in Geneva, the WHO Gene Publishing Experts Group, which was established in December after a Chinese scientist said that he had modified the genes of twin babies, had declared to be agree on a framework for the definition of future standards.

A central registry of all research on the editing of the human genome was needed "to create an open and transparent database of work in progress", and asked the WHO to start implementing place such a register immediately.

"The committee will develop essential tools and guidance for all those working on this new technology to ensure maximum benefit and minimal risk to human health," said Soumya Swamanathan, chief scientist for the team. WHO, in a statement.

Last year, a Chinese scientist claimed to have changed the genes of twins.

The news of births has sparked global condemnation, in part because it has raised the ethical specter of so-called "designer babies" – in which embryos can be genetically engineered to produce children with desirable traits.

Scientists and ethicists from seven countries last week called for a worldwide moratorium on the genetic modification of eggs, sperm or human embryos, which would give birth to such genetically modified babies, claiming that " this could have permanent and possibly harmful effects on the species ".

In his statement, the group of WHO experts said that any human gene editing work should be done solely for research purposes, should not be the subject of any Clinical trials on humans and should be conducted transparently.

"It is irresponsible for the moment that anyone pursue clinical applications of human genome line editing."

The Director General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, welcomed the initial plans of the group. "Gene editing is an incredible promise for health, but it also involves ethical and medical risks," he said.

The committee said it aimed over the next two years to produce "a comprehensive governance framework" for national, local and international authorities to ensure that the science of human genome editing progresses in agreed ethical limits.