Chinese scientist announces the birth of genetically modified babies – and all hell breaks loose – Endpoints News

Health



[ad_1]

Chinese researcher claims to have created the first genetically modified babies using CRISPR / Cas9 tools that have become a common feature in laboratories around the world. And the news has unleashed a storm in scientific circles around the world, as researchers using gene-modification technologies to refine plants and forge new therapies are attempting to blur the amazing – if true – development leads presented on YouTube. .

Several experts – including co-inventor Feng Zhang – criticized the experiment, raising potential safety issues that could result from genetic engineering. And Rice University, where a teacher would have been involved, is conducting an investigation.

The scientist who claimed this work, however, offered a sunny outlook on YouTube.

"A few weeks ago, two beautiful Chinese girls, Lulu and Nana, shouted to the world in good health," said Jiankui He, a researcher based in Shenzhen, in the YouTube video and WeChat publication. But it was not an average birth. According to the unverified researcher's statement, twin embryos were genetically modified with CRISPR to downgrade CCR5, a gene used by HIV as a back door in a cell.

Prior to an international conference on gene editing that is scheduled to open Tuesday in Hong Kong, he announced that he had modified embryos for seven couples during fertility treatments, with a pregnancy up to seven months. Now. But the legitimacy of the project is under study. The South Shenzhen University of Science and Technology, to which he is affiliated, issued a statement in which she stated that she was "deeply shocked" and was unaware of her research project that she was "not sure of". it considers a "serious violation of ethics and academic standards". has been on leave without pay since February.

He claimed that his goal was not to cure or prevent an inherited disease, but to confer a naturally common trait in parts of northern Europe: the ability to resist infection by the virus AIDS. But the choice to modify this CCR5 gene, whose blockage can also be effective in counteracting cholera and smallpox, immediately sparked an uproar over the use of CRISPR to modify DNA so it could be passed on. to future generations.

MIT Technology Review Antonio Regalado pointed out that this could be particularly controversial, as there are simpler and less expensive ways to prevent or even eliminate HIV infection. Changing embryos during IVF will also be expensive and will require technology beyond the reach of the poorest regions of the world where HIV is ubiquitous.

Some also suggest that history raises other thorny issues. Tom Ellis, investigator at Imperial College, said:

Although there is a scientific consensus that gene editing should not be used to give "baby designers" enhanced physical or intellectual characteristics, the jury must determine to what extent science should interfere with nature to prevent, cure or cure diseases.

In addition to China, laboratory research is underway in Sweden and the United Kingdom to investigate the potential of gene editing on human embryos. But in the United States, it's a politically charged proposal that took away the close endorsement of the National Academy of Sciences, which had recommended last year that the germ line change at the University of New York. 39; man was justified under certain circumstances, such as preventing the birth of children with serious diseases. . This recommendation will likely fall in the ears of a deaf person, as layers of the public vehemently oppose such interference for religious reasons. In fact, such changes are virtually out of the question – existing laws prohibit the FDA from considering proposals to create genetically modified offspring.

The promise of CRISPR / Cas9 editing has long been announced. However, experimenting with the procedure has created significant security concerns. Data presented earlier this year suggest that the tool, which consists essentially of a pair of molecular scissors, may inadvertently increase the risk of cancer in some cells or introduce accidental mutations – problems that could impede the development of Gene editing therapies advocated by companies such as CRISPR. Therapeutic $ CRSP, Editas Medicine $ EDIT and Intellia Therapeutics $ NTLA.

"The genetic modification of a human embryo the size of a point carries significant risks, including the risk of introducing unwanted mutations or giving a baby whose body is composed of edited cells." and unedited cells. The data on the Chinese test site indicates that one of the fetuses is a "mosaic" of cells that have been modified in different ways, "Regalado said in his article.

His project involved couples in which men were HIV-positive, but not women. The goal was to prevent their children from suffering the same fate.

According to the AP report, he stated that, in a twin, both copies of the desired gene had been modified, while in the other twin, only one copy had been disabled – and that the other one had been changed. there was no evidence of harm to the other genes. Humans with a copy of the gene can still be infected with HIV.

The montage took place during IVF – the sperm was first separated from sperm where it is known that HIV persists. Then, a single sperm was placed in a solitary egg to create an embryo when the gene editing tool was used. The couples recruited in the study received free fertility treatment in exchange for their participation and were offered the choice of using published or unedited embryos for pregnancy attempts. In total, 16 of the 22 embryos were published and 11 were used in 6 implant attempts before the pregnancy was performed, he told the AP.

Founder of the DNA sequencing company, Direct Genomics, he obtained the informed consent of the participants, describing this study as an "AIDS vaccine development project." However, in his Ethical Approval Request Form, he described it as a CCR5 gene editing project.

Press articles linked his work to Rice University's Michael Deem, who will now have to answer for exactly what they did. Rice University was quick to launch its own investigation. They noted:

Recent press articles describe a case of genomic editing of human embryos in China. These reports include a description of the participation of Dr. Michael Deem, professor of bioengineering at Rice University. This research raises troubling scientific, legal and ethical issues. Rice offers the following statement:

  1. Rice had no knowledge of this work.

  2. To Rice's knowledge, no clinical work has been done in the United States.

  3. No matter where it was conducted, this work, as described in the press releases, violates the guidelines of scientific conduct and is inconsistent with the ethical standards of the scientific community and Rice University.

  4. We have begun a thorough investigation of Mr. Deem's participation in this research.

In addition, two CRISPR founders quickly noted their own problems with the China Embryo Project.

Feng Zhang, of the Broad Institute, co-inventor of the technology, said:

Although I appreciate the global threat posed by HIV, at this stage, the risks associated with modifying embryos to eliminate the CCR5 seem to outweigh the potential benefits, not to mention that the fact removing CRC5 would probably make a person much more susceptible to West Nile virus. . Equally important, there are already common and highly effective methods of preventing HIV transmission from a parent to an unborn child.

Given the current state of genome editing technology, I support a moratorium on the implantation of published embryos, which seems to be the focus of the CCR5 trial, until we define first a set of thoughtful security requirements.

Not only do I consider this risky, but I am also deeply concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding this trial.

Picture: Jiankui He. THE LABORATORY via YOUTUBE

[ad_2]
Source link

Tags

Powered by https://naaju.com/us | Designed by Naaju
© Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved