CRISPR babies still too risky, warns new report
Human embryos whose genomes have been edited should not be used to create a pregnancy until it is certain that changes can be made without introducing undesired changes, according to a new report by an influential panel.
The report, “Heritable Human Genome Editing”, was published on September 3 by an International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing, which comprises the US National Academy of Medicine, the US National Academy of Sciences and the UK’s Royal Society.
According to the report, heritable human genome editing (HHGE) should be limited to preventing the development of serious monogenic diseases, for example, cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia and Tay-Sachs disease.
In these cases, it further advised that HHGE should only be considered when prospective parents who are at risk of transmitting a serious monogenic disease have poor options for having a child who is not genetically affected without the editing procedure.
The international commission was formed in the aftermath of the 2018 International Summit on Human Genome Editing held in Hong Kong, where a Chinese biophysicist He Jianku shocked the world by announcing that twins had been born following editing he had performed on early embryos. The move was widely criticised by scientists worldwide as being premature and led to a prison sentence for Jianku.
Commission co-chair Richard Lifton, president of the Rockefeller University, New York City, said: “Any initial uses of HHGE should proceed incrementally and cautiously, and provide the most favorable balance of potential benefits and harms. For the prevention of serious monogenic diseases, the commission has defined a responsible clinical translational pathway from rigorous preclinical research that determines whether and how editing can be performed efficiently and with high accuracy, to clinical application.”
He added that countries would then be able to decide whether an editing application is permissible, informed by preclinical data as well as a broad discussion of social and ethical issues. “The report provides guidance on essential elements of national and international scientific governance and oversight,” he said.
Commission co-chair Kay Davies, professor of genetics at the MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre at the University of Oxford, said: “Should they ever be used, it is vitally important that these technologies are used for medically justified interventions, based on a rigorous understanding of how the pathogenic variant leads to disease.”
She added: “More research is needed into the technology of genome editing in human embryos, to ensure that precise changes can be made without undesired off-target effects. International cooperation and open discussion of all aspects of genome editing will be essential.”
An LSPN Connect session held on August 20 explored the latest developments in this controversial area of gene editing technology. To watch on this session and for more information on joining LSPN Connect, visit www.lspnconnect.com
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