Doubts raised about CRISPR gene-editing study in human embryos

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.南方科技大學賀建奎博士 2018年11月26曰宣佈一對基因編輯嬰兒於11月在中國健康誕生為背景，分析了使用CRISPR/Cas9基因編辑技術以及選擇CCR5作為抵抗愛滋病感染靶標存在的科學和倫理學問題，探討了相關研究可能對人類遺傳物質造成不可逆轉的改造，進而混入人類的基因庫具有巨大風險和倫理爭議。因此，現階段應對基因編辑相關研究加強規範和監管，在技術尚不成熟的情況下，不能隨意開展人類生殖細胞和人類胚胎基因編辑研究，更不能質然推廣到臨床研究。This study is based on the announcement by Dr. He Jiankui of Southern University of Science and Technology on November 26, 2018 that a pair of gene-edited babies were born in China in November. It discusses the ethical problems posed by Dr. He's research in CRISPR-based gene editing technology for human embryos, analyzes the scientific and ethical problems in CRISPR/Cas9 technology and choosing CCR5 as the target of anti-AIDS infection, and investigates the feasibility of relevant research. The fact that human genetic material can be irreversibly transformed into a human gene pool presents a huge risk and an ethical controversy. Therefore, we should strengthen the regulation and supervision of gene editing research at this stage. In this immature phase of technology development, we cannot conduct gene editing research with human germ cells and human embryos at will, especially clinical research.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 100 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

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The Ethical Challenges of Gene Editing

Ethics & Medics ◽

10.5840/em2017421220 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 42 (12) ◽

pp. 3-4

Author(s):

Jozef Zalot ◽

Tadeusz Pacholczyk ◽

Keyword(s):

Catholic Church ◽

Gene Editing ◽

Human Life ◽

Genetic Diseases ◽

Future Generations ◽

Human Embryos ◽

Human Beings ◽

Ethical Challenges ◽

Oregon Health ◽

Life Threatening

In August 2017, researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University announced that they had successfully used a gene editing technique known as CRISPR-Cas9 to repair disease-causing genes in human embryos. Some members of the scientific and medical communities have hailed the development as a way to ensure that life- threatening diseases are not passed on to future generations. But is gene editing always a good thing? The Catholic Church encourages scientific research that is ethical and serves the human good. In the future, CRISPR may be used to treat people with serious genetic diseases, such as hemophilia and sickle-cell anemia. However, for research on human beings to be ethical, it must be strictly therapeutic and must respect the dignity and sacredness of human life. Gene-editing techniques raise profound ethical challenges in both respects.

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Doing Wrong to ‘Lulu’ and ‘Nana’? Applying Parfit to the He Jiankui Experiment

International Journal of Applied Philosophy ◽

10.5840/ijap2021118140 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 157-170

Author(s):

Norman K. Swazo ◽

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

In Vitro Fertilization ◽

Research Team ◽

Gene Editing ◽

Genomic Research ◽

Human Embryos ◽

Derek Parfit ◽

Identity Problem ◽

Vitro Fertilization

In November 2018, Dr. He Jiankui announced the birth of two baby girls born through the use of in vitro fertilization technology and the use of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9. There has been nigh uniform international condemnation of the clinical trial for violating international norms governing genomic research, especially research in human embryos that has implications for the germline. At issue also is the question whether the parents and the clinical research team harmed, and therefore wronged, the two girls. Here this question is engaged through application of the reasoning Derek Parfit has provided on the non-identity problem. One concludes that on this reasoning the parents are not morally culpable on that argument, although there is other reasoning that is to be considered to resist the Parfitian conclusion.

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Gene editing of human embryos is not contrary to human rights law: A reply to Drabiak

Bioethics ◽

10.1111/bioe.12945 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Boggio ◽

Rumiana Yotova

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Gene Editing ◽

Human Embryos ◽

Human Rights Law

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Wet & Dry Lab Activities to Introduce Students to CRISPR-Based Gene Editing

The American Biology Teacher ◽

10.1525/abt.2020.82.5.315 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 82 (5) ◽

pp. 315-322

Author(s):

David Wollert

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Gene Editing ◽

Adaptive Immune System ◽

Word Processor ◽

Biological Research ◽

Human Embryos ◽

New Era ◽

Cultured Human Cells ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Science Educators

CRISPR (also known as CRISPR-Cas9) is a powerful biotechnology tool that gives scientists unprecedented access to the genetic makeup of all living organisms, including humans. It originally evolved as an adaptive immune system in bacteria to defend against viruses. When artificially harnessed in the laboratory it allows scientists to accurately and precisely edit genes almost as if using a word processor. In mice, CRISPR has already been used to treat diabetes, muscular dystrophy, cancer, and blindness. CRISPR has made cultured human cells immune to HIV, and a variety of CRISPR experiments involving human embryos are well under way. But CRISPR is not limited to biomedical applications. It is also revolutionizing the food industry and many areas of biological research. It is imperative that science educators help prepare students for this compelling new era of biology. This article presents wet and dry lab simulations to help introduce high school and undergraduate students to CRISPR-based gene editing technology.

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Stem-cell research and regenerative medicine in China

National Science Review ◽

10.1093/nsr/nww032 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 257-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jane Qiu

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Regenerative Medicine ◽

Stem Cell Research ◽

Gene Editing ◽

Associate Editor ◽

Human Embryos ◽

Director General ◽

Chinese Academy Of Sciences ◽

The World ◽

Academy Of Sciences

Abstract For stem-cell researchers around the world, 2015 was a roller-coaster year. In April, Junjiu Huang, a biologist at the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, published the first paper on gene editing in human embryos with CRISPR-cas9. This sparked a global controversy—with many Western media using this as an example of China's lack of ethical standards. Subsequent discussions, which culminated in the summit in Washington, DC, last December, have eased the anxieties to some extent over this study and similar studies have now been proposed or approved in the UK and Sweden. Surprisingly, according to Nature magazine (the same magazine publishing some of the news reports on this study), Huang was one of the 10 scientists in the world that made a difference last year. In a forum chaired by National Science Review's Executive Associate Editor Mu-ming Poo, stem-cell researchers and a bioethicist discussed how they see last year's furore over gene editing, why China should streamline its oversight and regulatory processes, and where the future of the country's stem-cell research and regenerative medicine lies. Duanqing Pei Stem-cell researcher and Director General of Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Guangzhou Xiaomei Zhai Bioethicist and Executive Director of the Centre for Bioethics, Peking Union Medical College, in Beijing Qi Zhou Stem-cell researcher at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing Jianhong Zhu Neurosurgeon and neuroscientist at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, in Shanghai Mu-ming Poo (Chair) Neuroscientist and Director of the Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Shanghai

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