Slashdot Mirror
New US Experiments Aim To Create Gene-Edited Human Embryos (npr.org)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from NPR: A scientist in New York is conducting experiments designed to modify DNA in human embryos as a step toward someday preventing inherited diseases, NPR has learned. For now, the work is confined to a laboratory. But the research, if successful, would mark another step toward turning CRISPR, a powerful form of gene editing, into a tool for medical treatment. Dieter Egli, a developmental biologist at Columbia University, says he is conducting his experiments "for research purposes." He wants to determine whether CRISPR can safely repair mutations in human embryos to prevent genetic diseases from being passed down for generations. So far, Egli has stopped any modified embryos from developing beyond one day so he can study them. "Right now we are not trying to make babies. None of these cells will go into the womb of a person," he says. But if the approach is successful, Egli would likely allow edited embryos to develop further to continue his research. Egli's research is reviewed in advance and overseen by a panel of other scientists and bioethicists at Columbia. Specifically, Egli is trying to fix one of the genetic defects that cause retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited form of blindness. "If it works, the hope is that the approach could help blind people carrying the mutation have genetically related children whose vision is normal," reports NPR.
Blind? Deaf? Skin color? Sexual orientation?
of Chinese Scientists who have some experience with this currently looking for employment.
Purity, in the context of genetics, means very badly inbred.
... there's an Emacs mode for this.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Hormonal levels in the womb, temperature differences, nutrients and other environmental factors can play a role. Not saying we won't work it out, but it won't be as easy as, say, curing hereditary blindness or hearing loss. Meaning we've got time to sort some other odds/ends out before we move on to that thorny issue.
Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
We're all gonna die! Someday
A/S/L = Age/Sex/Location last time I used it.
I reserve the write to mangle english.
All the societal impacts aside, fiddling with the human genome, when we BARELY understand how this stuff works seems like a really dangerous idea.
Who knows what sort of new problem you're introducing into our genome, that may not be expressed for a few generations?
You think you solved some awful human condition, start doing it widespread, and 150 years down the road, we're all fucked cuz it did something unintended like made everyone sterile, or have some other much worse disability.
as a step toward someday preventing inherited diseases
"the hope is that the approach could help blind people carrying the mutation have genetically related children whose vision is normal"
... argued that disabled people are a community unto themselves and that eliminating their conditions means erasing the potential future of their culture. She asked, "Where is the line between what society perceives to be a horrible genetic mutation and someone's culture?"
Very surprisingly to me, this is generally NOT an immediate accepted topic / action / result. IT'S GONE NOW -- I read it and was shocked. I immediately thought of Ender's Game book 3? where the ?antagonist? -- who had to start and follow wood grain lines until the gods were satisfied -- didn't want to be cured, but also couldn't disrespect her father, so was cured against her will.
There was an article (actually, an opinion piece) that was (not any more!) at: https://www.pluralist.com/post....
It said: A prominent disabilities activist spoke against the use of genetic editing to eliminate diseases from birth because it would be tantamount to a "genocide" against the culture of the disabled.
Link. Other link Discussion
We're talking about removal of diseases," she said. "That's forever. That's a change -- a modification -- that will be passed on to future generations. So that's actually genocide. It's a form of eugenics where certain lived experiences are seen as undesirable and unimaginable."
The Eye of the Beholder
I'm like: DO IT. And do it AGAIN just to make sure. And if you're bored, check to see if you need to do it AGAIN. If you want to be deaf, you can always stick bananas in your ears. Or your eyes. Or any other random orifices.
If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?
The point is that thanks to CRISPR, we might be able to do eugenics without sterilization. Since most people with some bad genes also carry a lot of good genes, this is not only more humane, but also good for genetic diversity.
So it's okay for US to do it, but not China...
We should also stop developing cybernetics because of Robocop, AI because of Terminator and jewelry because of Lord of the Rings...
Superpowers. :)
[($)]
When have we ever taken and twisted a technology to its moist perverse extreme?
I see what you did there.