Swedish scientist begins gene-editing experiments on human embryos
by Xavier Symons | 24 Sep 2016 |
A Swedish scientist has begun what are believed to be the first gene-editing experiments on healthy human embryos.
Developmental biologist Fredrick Lanner from the Karolinska Institute is using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to identify the function of specific genes in the human genome, and to learn more about the causes of infertility and miscarriages.
Lanner, who also hopes to gain insight into the use of embryonic stem cells to fight disease, says that his experiments are both necessary and morally permissible; he intends to experiment on healthy embryos until they reach 14 days of development. “I think it's wise to be allowed to do fundamental research so we can gain more information about this technology and potentially use it in the future”.
Lanner told NPR that his research will not be used to study the potential for so-called “designer babies”. “I really, of course, stand against any sort of thoughts that one should use this to design designer babies or enhance for aesthetic purposes.”
Marcy Darnovsky, Executive Director of the Center for Genetics and Society, is concerned that embryonic gene-editing research will be a precursor to the production of genetically modified human beings.
"The production of genetically modified human embryos is actually quite dangerous…It's a step toward attempts to produce genetically modified human beings. This would be reason for grave concern."
One of the recurring themes thrown up by assisted reproduction is the importance of genetic ties. Are we determined by our origins, or can we forge our own identity? Does it matter whether our nearest and dearest are our kith and kin or whether they are just the people we hang around with?
By chance I just stumbled across the astonishing story of a Hungarian politician whose life was transformed when he discovered his true genetic identity.
By the time Csanad Szegedi was 24, he was vice-president of Jobbik, a far-right, nationalist and virulently anti-Semitic party. He was elected to the European Parliament as a Jobbik MEP in 2009 and wrote a book, I Believe in Hungary’s Resurrection.
Then he learned his family’s deepest secret: he was a Jew. His grandfather and grandmother were actually Auschwitz survivors.
Szegedi’s life fell apart. He was forced to resign from Jobbik.
Suddenly he did a complete about-face. Under the tuition of a Lubavitch rabbi from New York who was living in Budapest he became an Orthodox, observant Jew; he had himself circumcised, adopted the name Dovid and burned a thousand copies of his book. Now he ismigrating to Israel with his wife and two children. He is interesting in joining the Knesset.
Szegedi is obviously a complex, intense man. He could even be a charlatan. But his astonishing journey does suggest that there is something to the idea that our personal identity is incomplete if it lacks the genetic heritage.
Michael Cook
Editor
BioEdge
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