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  • Let's have babies!

    ...is what Tump said to Putin during their Helsinki meeting

    Nah, just kidding, it's about this thing:

    A Chinese scientist who claims to have created the world's first genetically edited babies has defended his work.

    Speaking at a genome summit in Hong Kong, He Jiankui said he was "proud" of altering the genes of twin girls so they could not contract HIV.

    His work, which he announced earlier this week, has not been verified.

    Many scientists have condemned his announcement. Such gene-editing work is banned in most countries, including China.

    Professor He's university - the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen - said it was unaware of the research project and would launch an investigation. It said Mr He had been on unpaid leave since February.

    Prof He confirmed the university was not aware, adding he had funded the experiment by himself.

    Prof He announced earlier this week that he had altered the DNA of embryos - twin girls - to prevent them from contracting HIV.

    On Wednesday, he spoke at the Human Genome Editing Summit at the University of Hong Kong for the first time about his work since the uproar.

    He revealed that the twin girls - known as "Lulu" and "Nana" - were "born normal and healthy", adding that there were plans to monitor the twins over the next 18 years.

    He explained that eight couples - comprised of HIV-positive fathers and HIV-negative mothers - had signed up voluntarily for the experiment; one couple later dropped out.

    Prof He also said that the study had been submitted to a scientific journal for review, though he did not name the journal.

    He also said that "another potential pregnancy" of a gene-edited embryo was in its early stages.

    But he apologised that his research "was leaked unexpectedly", and added: "The clinical trial was paused due to the current situation." Why is it this controversial?

    The Crispr gene editing tool he claims to have used is not new to the scientific world, and was first discovered in 2012.

    It works by using "molecular scissors" to alter a very specific strand of DNA - either cutting it out, replacing it or tweaking it.

    Gene editing could potentially help avoid heritable diseases by deleting or changing troublesome coding in embryos.

    But experts worry meddling with the genome of an embryo could cause harm not only to the individual but also future generations that inherit these same changes.

    Prof He's recent claims were widely criticised by other scientists.

    Hundreds of Chinese scientists also signed a letter on social media condemning the research, saying they were "resolutely" opposed to it.

    "If true, this experiment is monstrous. Gene editing itself is experimental and is still associated with off-target mutations, capable of causing genetic problems early and later in life, including the development of cancer," Prof Julian Savulescu, an ethics expert at the University of Oxford, told the BBC.

    "This experiment exposes healthy normal children to risks of gene editing for no real necessary benefit."

    Many countries, including the UK, have laws that prevent the use of genome editing in embryos for assisted reproduction in humans.

    Scientists can do gene editing research on discarded IVF embryos, as long as they are destroyed immediately afterwards and not used to make a baby.

    Prof He's experiment is prohibited under Chinese laws, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Xu Nanping told state media.

    China allows in-vitro human embryonic stem cell research for a maximum period of 14 days, Mr Xu clarified.
    He Jiankui shocked the world by claiming he had created the world's first genetically edited children.


    Is this a big success for science or are these basically Frankenbabies?
    Blah

  • #2
    Neither one of those thing is the case. This is not a big break through, but the inevitable application of existing capabilities. As for Frankenbabies, they have only had a gene removed which will result in them being more resistant to HIV infection. There is some chance that these babies may be more likely to develop cancer, but that does not qualify as a Frankenbaby,
    “It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see.”

    ― C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

    Comment


    • #3
      I hope they are (and will remain) fine, but I sooo like the term Frankenbaby ...
      Blah

      Comment


      • #4
        If a woman I was dating ever said "Lets have babies!" to me I would run very fast the opposite direction, block her number, and possibly file an injunction.
        Order of the Fly
        Those that cannot curse, cannot heal.

        Comment


        • #5
          What if it was a demon who said it though?

          Comment


          • #6
            I would do it for a demon.
            Order of the Fly
            Those that cannot curse, cannot heal.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by pchang View Post
              Neither one of those thing is the case. This is not a big break through, but the inevitable application of existing capabilities. As for Frankenbabies, they have only had a gene removed which will result in them being more resistant to HIV infection. There is some chance that these babies may be more likely to develop cancer, but that does not qualify as a Frankenbaby,
              I get that though I do wonder if it is ethical to experiment like this on embryos with the intention of bringing those embryos to term. Embryos are not people but once born they are people; people who never consented to have their DNA altered and take part in this experiment.
              Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.

              Comment


              • pchang
                pchang commented
                Editing a comment
                Our current convention is to allow parents to make that determination for their children.

              • Dinner
                Dinner commented
                Editing a comment
                I just wonder if that is ethical.

            • #8
              Altering the DNA of Embryos is the way of the Future!
              I am not delusional! Now if you'll excuse me, i'm gonna go dance with the purple wombat who's playing show-tunes in my coffee cup!
              Rules are like Egg's. They're fun when thrown out the window!
              Difference is irrelevant when dosage is higher than recommended!

              Comment


              • #9
                You are a star trek nerd?
                Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.

                Comment

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