As a genome editing summit opens in Hong Kong, questions abound over China, and why it quietly bowed out.
Due to the generosity of supporters, a representative of NCER was one of only 400 attendees at the Second International Genome Editing Summit in Hong Kong, 11/2018. There, a bombshell report broke that one of the Chinese scientists scheduled to speak at the Summit announced he used the CRISPR gene tool to edit the DNA of twins that were then born in October, hence breaking the international moratorium on clinical Genome Editing in human embryos. …
Statement by the Organizing Committee of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing, November 29, 2018
While being caught off guard at the revelation of the gene-edited twins, the medical research community seemed to only condemn the prematurity in the creation of these “designer” babies due to the uncertainty of their safety. No trepidation was expressed at the immorality of researchers literally creating their own human test subjects. However, the possible perception of the inability of the research community to self-regulate was vocalized several times from the summit podium, along with …
REVEALED: More than 70 PERCENT of Americans are in favor of gene editing to protect children from deadly diseases
Are you part of the 70% of Americans who are in favor of creating babies who would be protected from diseases? No one would wish illness upon humans, let alone babies, so upon first reflection, this seems to be a compassionate route to take in medicine. However, there are many dire complications to consider: What if unintended, harmful mutations are made to these babies? What if the technology is abused by using it to modify …