Scientists Given Go Ahead To Genetically Modify Human Embryos
"A victory for level-headed regulation over moral panic."
A huge step has been taken to reducing miscarriages and improving IVF success rates today, as scientists in London were given permission to genetically edit human embryos. The UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) announced that scientists will be able to use a system called CRISPS/Cas9, deemed as the biggest biotech discovery of the century, to modify developing embryos. This is the first approval of its kind, and has been described as a victory for level-headed regulation over moral panic. However, some have expressed concern over the development of "designer babies," a term used to described a genetically modified child. This appears a long way off though. Researchers are only using CRISPR/Cas9 to better understand human embryo development, with it remaining illegal to implant a genetically modified embryo into a woman. With this being the first of its kind, Darren Griffin, University of Kent geneticist, has said: It is a clear example how the UK leads the world not only in the science behind research into early human development, but also the social science used to regulate and monitor it. The system was developed in 2012, and it is expected to also be able to treat conditions such as muscular dystrophy, drug-resistant superbugs and vision loss. It is not expected to be used in the US any time soon though, with the National Institute of Health stating that it will not fund any use of gene-editing technologies in human embryos. Keep up to date on the latest happennings in WhatCulture Science, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter