prasad1
Active member
[h=2]Global scientific opinion on germline editing, a new generation of genetic engineering techniques, is that it would be irresponsible to proceed with any clinical use until safety and efficiency issues are resolved[/h]
A green translucent test tube, with a baby floating in it, greets you at the entrance of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic in one of Bengaluru’s leafy neighbourhoods. Spanning two storeys of the building, it is a rather literal interpretation of the test tube baby, and perhaps also a celebration of humankind’s triumph over infertility.
Through IVF, cells from embryos are being screened for specific genetic disorders. The genetically defective ones are eliminated. In principle, you can erase an inherited genetic disorder from a single generation of family. Now, the scientific community has the technology that can, in principle, be developed to make specific and targeted genetic alterations in embryos, which will be carried by all the cells of a resulting child and passed on to his/her offspring, a part of the human gene pool. In scientific jargon, it’s called germline editing.
The world over, laboratories have been conducting experiments and altering the genome of mice and other animals. Then, scientists in China used non-viable human embryos to modify the gene responsible for thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder. The outcome of this experiment convinced them that it was too immature to edit human embryos. Nevertheless, there are rumours in the scientific community that similar experiments are being conducted on embryos. Using genome editing technology to reverse a defect in a human embryo, implant and then bring it to term is taboo.
“Apart from the fact that it is unethical, the problem is that the current state of technology is imprecise, and there will be unintended consequences,” says Dr. S. Ramaswamy, senior professor, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bengaluru.
It is tempting to imagine permanently erasing of say BRAC1, the breast-cancer causing gene from the human genome. But the risk is too high. There are horrors hidden behind the banality of the term “unintended consequences”.
“We are not ready to play god,” he says.
At the heart of the debate is a powerful gene-editing technology, CRISPR-Cas9, which is relatively inexpensive, accessible and effective. Above all, it is easy to use if you have the right training. It brings the idea of designing a perfect human who is healthy and intelligent many steps closer to becoming a reality.
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/gene-editing-on-a-roll-but-safe-to-clear-the-way/article7981139.ece
