Major report prepares ground for genetic modification of human embryos
by Ian Sample, Guardian:
Powerful gene editing procedures could one day be allowed to prevent people from passing on serious medical conditions to their children, according to a major report from senior US researchers.
The cautious endorsement from two of the most prestigious US science institutions means that human embryos, sperm and eggs could all be genetically manipulated to mend faulty genes which are known to cause serious disease or disability, once research has shown it is safe to do so.
The report from the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine says the procedure is “highly contentious” because any genetic changes that are made are then inherited by the next generation. “The technology would therefore cross a line many have viewed as ethically inviolable,” it states.
Most scientists agree that far more work is needed before clinical trials of so-called “germline” therapies can begin in humans. But the report argues that if the procedure is found to be safe and effective in the years ahead, it should not be ruled out in exceptional cases.
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