British embryo research ‘first step’ to 'legalisation of GM babies'

[webfact]

British embryo research ‘first step’ to 'legalisation of GM babies'



LONDON: -- British scientists have been given the green light to edit the genes of human embryos for research.

A controversial technique will be used, that some say could eventually create “designer babies.”

Less than a year after Chinese scientists caused an international furore by saying they had genetically modified human embryos, Kathy Niakan, a stem cell scientist from London’s Francis Crick Institute, was granted a licence to carry out similar experiments.

“The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has approved a research application from the Francis Crick Institute to use new ‘gene editing’ techniques on human embryos,” Niakan’s lab said on Monday.

It said the work carried out “will be for research purposes and will look at the first seven days of a fertilised egg’s development, from a single cell to around 250 cells.”

Niakan plans to carry out her experiments using CRISPR-Cas9, a technology that is already the subject of fierce international debate because of fears that it could be used to create babies to order.

CRISPR can enable scientists to find and modify or replace genetic defects, and many of them have described it as “game-changing.”

David King, director of the UK campaign group Human Genetics Alert, has called Niakan’s plans “the first step on a path… towards the legalisation of GM babies.”

NIakan says she has no intention of genetically altering embryos for use in human reproduction, but wants to deepen scientific understanding of how a healthy human embryo develops – something that could, in the long term, help to improve infertility treatments.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-02-02

[shirtless]

At over 7 billion people in the world , do we really need GM babies.

[mamypoko]

GM babies, they just plain old taste better

[boomerangutang]

another nail in the coffin of this species. We already have the 'Octo mom' who pumped out 8 babies which were started in a test-tube. We've got C-sections taking place faster than you can flip pancakes, which ensures future generations cannot make babies without surgical assistance. What's next? Super rich, like Donald Trump, arranging for 200 Trump Jr. clones, all in gold cradles lined with rhinestones.

[boomerangutang]

GM making babies? What happens if there are flaws? ....will there be a recall back to the factory for repairs?

[partington]

This unbelievably specific and comparatively easy method holds the prospect for cure of almost all single gene disorders and massive advances in, for example, cancer treatment (cancer is a 100% genetic disease). This method is the biggest advance in medicine that has ever happened, though it hasn't filtered through to the public yet.

Genes are what we are, and faulty genes cause an immense amount of human misery. There is no prospect of advancing medicine without gene manipulation - you have to get used to the idea or get used to being sick. It's increasingly going to be this stark choice over the next few decades, as our ability to alter genes advances from unfeasibly difficult (20 years ago) to routine (five or ten years from now).

[sungod]

Thats the end of sport as we know it.

[slapout]

In conjunction with this grand announcement, what was the result of the human head transplant that was scheduled a few weeks back. Not wanting to get off topic just courious about the transplant, outcome.

[thaibeachlovers]

Gattaca should be compulsory viewing for all.

Why aren't all the pro life people that believe life starts at conception up in arms about this?

[thaibeachlovers]

In conjunction with this grand announcement, what was the result of the human head transplant that was scheduled a few weeks back. Not wanting to get off topic just courious about the transplant, outcome.

Google has your answer.

[Jonmarleesco]

Hitler jumped the gun, but his ideology has obviously stayed the course.

[Jonmarleesco]

This unbelievably specific and comparatively easy method holds the prospect for cure of almost all single gene disorders and massive advances in, for example, cancer treatment (cancer is a 100% genetic disease). This method is the biggest advance in medicine that has ever happened, though it hasn't filtered through to the public yet.

Genes are what we are, and faulty genes cause an immense amount of human misery. There is no prospect of advancing medicine without gene manipulation - you have to get used to the idea or get used to being sick. It's increasingly going to be this stark choice over the next few decades, as our ability to alter genes advances from unfeasibly difficult (20 years ago) to routine (five or ten years from now).

Cancer is genetic? As in inherited? Genetic they are; inherited, most are not.

[partington]

This unbelievably specific and comparatively easy method holds the prospect for cure of almost all single gene disorders and massive advances in, for example, cancer treatment (cancer is a 100% genetic disease). This method is the biggest advance in medicine that has ever happened, though it hasn't filtered through to the public yet.

Genes are what we are, and faulty genes cause an immense amount of human misery. There is no prospect of advancing medicine without gene manipulation - you have to get used to the idea or get used to being sick. It's increasingly going to be this stark choice over the next few decades, as our ability to alter genes advances from unfeasibly difficult (20 years ago) to routine (five or ten years from now).

Cancer is genetic? As in inherited? Genetic they are; inherited, most are not.

This is of course why I said genetic, and not inherited.

[thaibeachlovers]

This unbelievably specific and comparatively easy method holds the prospect for cure of almost all single gene disorders and massive advances in, for example, cancer treatment (cancer is a 100% genetic disease). This method is the biggest advance in medicine that has ever happened, though it hasn't filtered through to the public yet.

Genes are what we are, and faulty genes cause an immense amount of human misery. There is no prospect of advancing medicine without gene manipulation - you have to get used to the idea or get used to being sick. It's increasingly going to be this stark choice over the next few decades, as our ability to alter genes advances from unfeasibly difficult (20 years ago) to routine (five or ten years from now).

Do you want to live forever?

I hope it never happens, as the only thing saving the planet as we know it is that people do die. If people don't die, the planet will run out of resources even faster.

[partington]

This unbelievably specific and comparatively easy method holds the prospect for cure of almost all single gene disorders and massive advances in, for example, cancer treatment (cancer is a 100% genetic disease). This method is the biggest advance in medicine that has ever happened, though it hasn't filtered through to the public yet.

Genes are what we are, and faulty genes cause an immense amount of human misery. There is no prospect of advancing medicine without gene manipulation - you have to get used to the idea or get used to being sick. It's increasingly going to be this stark choice over the next few decades, as our ability to alter genes advances from unfeasibly difficult (20 years ago) to routine (five or ten years from now).

Do you want to live forever?

I hope it never happens, as the only thing saving the planet as we know it is that people do die. If people don't die, the planet will run out of resources even faster.

What a shame you weren't around to make this argument when they invented antibiotics: then millions more people would have died and the world would be saved...

Edited February 3, 2016 by partington

[thaibeachlovers]

This unbelievably specific and comparatively easy method holds the prospect for cure of almost all single gene disorders and massive advances in, for example, cancer treatment (cancer is a 100% genetic disease). This method is the biggest advance in medicine that has ever happened, though it hasn't filtered through to the public yet.

Genes are what we are, and faulty genes cause an immense amount of human misery. There is no prospect of advancing medicine without gene manipulation - you have to get used to the idea or get used to being sick. It's increasingly going to be this stark choice over the next few decades, as our ability to alter genes advances from unfeasibly difficult (20 years ago) to routine (five or ten years from now).

Do you want to live forever?

I hope it never happens, as the only thing saving the planet as we know it is that people do die. If people don't die, the planet will run out of resources even faster.

What a shame you weren't around to make this argument when they invented antibiotics: then millions more people would have died and the world would be saved...

Sad but true. Humans are incapable of regulating their populations voluntarily.

Perhaps this new virus that makes babies have small brains is the beginning of the end for overpopulation- NO CURE and spreading fast.

[Credo]

This unbelievably specific and comparatively easy method holds the prospect for cure of almost all single gene disorders and massive advances in, for example, cancer treatment (cancer is a 100% genetic disease). This method is the biggest advance in medicine that has ever happened, though it hasn't filtered through to the public yet.

Genes are what we are, and faulty genes cause an immense amount of human misery. There is no prospect of advancing medicine without gene manipulation - you have to get used to the idea or get used to being sick. It's increasingly going to be this stark choice over the next few decades, as our ability to alter genes advances from unfeasibly difficult (20 years ago) to routine (five or ten years from now).

Do you want to live forever?

I hope it never happens, as the only thing saving the planet as we know it is that people do die. If people don't die, the planet will run out of resources even faster.

What a shame you weren't around to make this argument when they invented antibiotics: then millions more people would have died and the world would be saved...

Sad but true. Humans are incapable of regulating their populations voluntarily.

Perhaps this new virus that makes babies have small brains is the beginning of the end for overpopulation- NO CURE and spreading fast.

I don't think small brains will cure overpopulation.