Chinese researchers detailed human genome editing in a newly published study, inciting a debate over the ethics of the practice.
According to BBC News, the study represented the first time an early human embryo was doctored, meaning the researchers attempted to remove potentially harmful genes before they manifest later in life. But the researchers' study, published in the journal Protein and Cell, indicates the editing of a human embryo can create problems of its own.
"I believe this is the first report of CRISPR/Cas9 applied to human pre-implantation embryos and as such the study is a landmark, as well as a cautionary tale," George Daley, a stem-cell biologist at Harvard Medical School not associated with the study, told Nature News. "Their study should be a stern warning to any practitioner who thinks the technology is ready for testing to eradicate disease genes."
Also part of the debate is the ethics of publishing the researchers' attempt. BBC News noted more established journals like Nature and Science did not accept the study. International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is among groups seeking a moratorium on related studies.
"Over the past few decades, research involving the modification of the DNA sequence in a cell has allowed scientists to investigate disease and develop new medical treatments," ISSCR President Rudolf Jaenisch said in a statement. "However, it is too soon to apply these technologies to the human germ line, the inherited DNA, in a clinical setting, and any research involving the use of human embryos and reproductive cells should be undertaken with care and in accordance with strict ethical guidelines."
