Chinese Scientists Genetically Modify DNA in Human Embryos in Provocative Study

Chinese scientists broke a taboo when they genetically modified embryos, earning criticism from the scientific community.

Genetic modification of embryos has been attempted in animal cells but has not been tried on human embryos due to ethical concerns. Also, biologists apprehend that the ramifications of such modifications have to be fully comprehended given that any modification will be passed down through generations.

According to The Telegraph, researchers at Sun Yat-Sen University modified embryos to rid them of the gene causing thalassemia. The scientists used the CRISPR/Cas9 editing tool which involves the use of a bacteria-guided protein to snip away targeted genetic portions that can be filled with desired genetic code. While publishing their experiment in the journal Protein and Cell, the scientists noted that the editing system needs more improvement.

Researchers in other parts of the world have stressed the need for legally binding moratorium even as they called for a ban on the research being carried out in China. While Chinese researchers have maintained that the embryos are non-viable and cannot become babies, others have simply refused to believe.

"I think that this is a significant departure from currently accepted research practice. Can we be certain that the embryos that the researchers were working on were indeed non-viable?" Prof Shirley Hodgson, Professor of Cancer Genetics, St George's University of London told The Telegraph.