He Jiankui claimed a few weeks ago, the twins came to the world, whose genetic material he’s genetically modified. Whether his statement is true, it is so far unclear. There is no publication to the public, which has been reviewed by independent experts, there are no pictures of the children, no contact with the alleged parents. And yet, the excitement is great.
What happened?
He claims to have embryos, following artificial insemination with the Genschere Crispr/Cas9 genetically modified. In the genome of the children he wants to have a Receptor disabled, which is required for HIV infection. So he had made the children resistant to the pathogen, they could not become infected with HIV.
Overall the procedure had been used in seven pairs. The fathers were HIV-positive. A few weeks ago had come in this way, genetically modified twins to the world.
What is the special about it?
The used Genwerkzeug – Gene-scissors Crispr/Cas9 – is now wide in the research. It consists of a strand of RNA that performs a cutting enzyme target to a specific location in the genome. In this way, genes can be quickly, safely and conveniently changed or turned off.
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Genwerkzeuge how these can be tested for a long time, even in patients About a year ago, U.S. researchers have dealt with, for example, a Hunter disease diseased man with gene more. The tools should fix a genetic Defect in his liver cells.
the difference to The current case is that the babies were changed as the embryo. From embryonic cells, all cells of the body: the skin, the organs, bones and muscles develop in the womb. A genetic mutation in the Embryo is later found in all cells, including Egg and sperm cells.
The just-born twins, if the story is true, their genetic modification to their offspring. Experts speak of an intervention in the human germ line. There has never been. In Germany, such interventions are forbidden.
What would be wrong with that?
ethicists criticize that in this way, Changes to people are made, where these are not able to agree – neither the embryo nor the following generations have a say.
Other experts are of the application of the technique, in principle, open: That the genome changes, was normal, they argue. Also, of course, there is genetic mutation in the Egg and sperm cells.
Savoybetting you might also intervention of interest in the human genome “and you will not be able to answer”
by this logic, in the future, a few, very rare cases conceivable in which it is reasonable might be to change the genetic makeup of embryos For example, if both parents carry the same, for a child of a harmful genetic defect, and these always inherit.
How safe is the procedure?
Also for this possible scenario, the safety of the procedure, however, would be a prerequisite. Researchers would have to agree that there are no unintended changes in the genome arise that cause in the next or next-but-one Generation of diseases. This is not yet the case.
In June 2018 showed laboratory experiments, for instance, that Crispr is increased when used in human cells, the risk of cancer. To change the genetic material of people under these conditions, over generations, to keep the vast majority of scientists to be too dangerous and ethically unacceptable.
Is the HIV-protection is not important?
the current Baby a Try, if it’s added you actually – still a Problem in the assessment of risks and Benefits: It is not the rare case in which parents with exactly the same genetic defect want a healthy child and this would not in any other way possible.
Instead, He wants to have the babies of HIV-positive fathers are resistant to the Virus. However, the children do not need a special HIV protection. The greatest risk to an infant of HIV-positive parents is due to the Transfer of the mother at birth. This danger can prevent Doctors reliably.
With drugs, the viral load of the parents can greatly reduce that they are infecting each other and – in the case of an infection the mother – to- child at birth is protected.
The high risks of an intervention in the germ line to be a small Benefit for the patients compared to the now claimed application. In the coming days, He will explain his work at a conference on “Human Genome Edition” in Hong Kong in more detail.
