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 …
Harvard and the Brigham call for more than 30 retractions of cardiac stem cell research
You can rely on NCER to report life-giving ethical research successes, and to expose unethical, even fraudulent practices. Stem cell research has been replete with fraud, such as the Harvard Stem Cell Scandal, in which 3 researchers made claims that were unsubstantiated, resulting in thirty papers being retracted. Even more egregious is the common practice of deceitfully labeling aborted fetal tissue as “adult stem cells”.
As seen in STAT
By IVAN ORANSKY and ADAM MARCUS…
Designer babies aren’t futuristic. They’re already here.
It is now common and affordable for adults to learn about their genetic make-up and any inheritable diseases their genes may carry. As a consequence, the use of expensive pre-implantation genetic testing to weed out imperfect embryos for family planning is growing rapidly. This trend risks relegating genetic diseases to poor populations, while also discriminating against imperfect but viable embryos that are created and rejected. NCER rejects this disregard for the unborn even those in …
Mom to the Internet: Anybody want to trade my girl embryo for a boy?
Using IVF, a couple decides that they do not want to carry their frozen female embryo to term, so they offer it as a commodity on the Internet to be exchanged for a male embryo. The fact that their embryo is made from their combined DNA is not compelling enough to overcome their disappointment in its gender. This is how the new reproductive technologies turn embryos into economic products instead of human beings. NCER strongly …
Same-sex mouse parents give birth via gene editing
CRISPR cures inherited disorder in mice, paving way for genetic therapy before birth
CRISPR cures inherited disorder in mice
On a very positive ethical note, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have utilized CRISPR to cure mice of a fatal liver disease while in utero! This “proof of concept” trial will pave the way to potentially curing genetic diseases in humans while the fetus is still in the mothers womb. Using a newer form of CRISPR which doesn’t need to cut out damaged DNA to replace it, CRISPR …
The Next Phase of Human Gene-Therapy Oversight
from NCER:In the US, over 700 investigational trials are ongoing in the gene therapy field, and with the rapid adoption of CRISPR gene editing technology, the NEJM admits that gene therapy will soon be a “mainstay of treatment for many diseases”. In an attempt to remove any obstacles to fast tracking this research, both the FDA and the NIH have just significantly reduced their oversight. They assert that the risks are not unique nor unpredictable …
Gene-editing technique cures genetic disorder in utero
from NCER: On a positive note, in July, Carnegie Mellon University successfully used gene editing to cure disease in mice while in the uterus, with no risk of negative effects. Over 8 M children are born yearly with birth defects, so the implications of this breakthrough are enormous, introducing the possibility of curing them while in the womb!
Study in mice shows promise for treating genetic conditions during early stages of development
Date: July 9, …