Table of Contents
Why in news?
- A Chinese researcher recently made a claim that he had altered the genes of a human embryo that eventually resulted in the birth of twin girls.
His research?
- The researcher worked with seven volunteered couples, wherein each couple had one partner who was HIV-positive.
- The aim was to ensure that HIV is not transmitted to the child.
- He used the Crispr Cas9 technology, which works like a genetic cut-and-paste tool, that allows researchers to permanently modify genes in living cells and organisms.
- Under the technology, he edited the genomes of 16 embryos to disable a gene, CCR5, which allows HIV to infect cells.
- He then used the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique to implant edited embryos, that lead to the birth of genetically edited babies.
- The changes so made are inheritable and passed on to descendants.
Technology used?
- CRISPR (short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology is a relatively new, and the most efficient tool for gene “editing” developed in the last one decade.
- The technology replicates a natural defence mechanism in bacteria to fight virus attacks, using a special protein called Cas9.
- The specific location of the genetic codes that need to be changed is identified on the DNA strand.
- Using the Cas9 protein, which acts like a pair of scissors, the specified location is cut off from the strand.
- A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency to repair itself.
- Scientists intervene during this auto-repair process, supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes that binds itself with the broken DNA strand.
How useful it has been so far?
- The most promising use of the CRISPR technology is in treatment of diseases.
- In the case of the new-born Chinese babies, the genes were “edited” to ensure that they do not get infected with HIV.
- Leading scientists in the field have for long been calling for a “global pause”
Concerns?
- Complications to create a “designer” baby
- Disabling of the CCR5 gene is known to lead to higher risks such as heightened susceptibilit y to flu.
- Targeting Since the changes are inheritable.
- Population composition – Genetic editing in humans with customised traits could empower eugenicists and racists, thereby encouraging selective breeding of the human population by eliminating undesirable traits.
Regulation
- Gene editing is banned in most countries.
- In the UK, where gene editing of embryos is permitted only after strict regulatory approval.
- Hence, many people from the scientific community have asked for a moratorium on editing human embryos.
- The scientific, commercial and ethical implications of this technique have to be researched further before getting it implemented on a large scale.
Ethical dilemma
- Verification
- Precision
- Approval
- Consequence
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