China halts controversial 'genome-edited babies' researchRachel SidenProgress Educational Trust03 December 2018 |
Authorities in China are moving to suspend the research activities of the scientists who claim to have modified the genomes of twin girls with CRISPR/Cas9.
This move came in response to the uproar that was sparked among the international scientific community when Dr He Jiankui, an associate professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, claimed in a YouTube video last week that he and his team had genome edited human embryos, resulting in the birth of the twins.
Dr He also raised the possibility of a third genome-edited baby when he presented his work publicly for the first time at a conference in Hong Kong last week. He said another woman in the study was in the early stage of pregnancy.
'The genetically edited infant incident reported by media blatantly violated China's relevant laws and regulations,' said Xu Nanping, China's vice minister for science and technology. 'It has also violated the ethical bottom line that the academic community adheres to. It is shocking and unacceptable.'
Some regulations banning the use of research embryos for reproduction in China do exist in a 2003 ethics guidance document. However, no punishments for violating those rules are clearly mentioned, which leaves the regulations somewhat vague, according to The Guardian.
Dr He is quoted as being 'proud' of his research, as the procedure sought to remove the CCR5 gene with the intended effect of making the girls HIV-resistant. But many have still condemned Dr He's research as highly unethical, as the safety of using CRISPR-Cas9 in humans has not been fully explored. Critics have also pointed out that there are already suitable means for preventing the transmission of HIV, arguing that such a procedure was unnecessary.
Additional concerns were raised in a statement published by organising committee of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing. 'The procedure was irresponsible and failed to conform with international norms,' said the committee.
'Its flaws include an inadequate medical indication, a poorly designed study protocol, a failure to meet ethical standards for protecting the welfare of research subjects, and a lack of transparency in the development, review, and conduct of the clinical procedures.'
However, the committee noted that germline genome editing 'could become acceptable in the future' if risks were properly addressed and the appropriate criteria met.
'These criteria include strict independent oversight, a compelling medical need, an absence of reasonable alternatives, a plan for long-term follow-up, and attention to societal effects,' it said.
SOURCES & REFERENCES
| Chinese gene-editing defends his research, raising possibility of third baby |
| CNN | 29 November 2018 |
| CRISPR-baby scientist fails to satisfy critics |
| Nature News | 28 November 2018 |
| On Human Genome Editing II: Statement by the Organizing Committee of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing |
| The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine | 29 November 2018 |
| Research activities of persons halted over gene-edited babies incident |
| Xinhua | 29 November 2018 |
| Work on gene-edited babies blatant violation of the law, says China |
| The Guardian | 29 November 2018 |
Reproduced with permission from BioNews, an email and online sources of news, information and comment on assisted reproduction and genetics.
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