Experiments for gene editing research
in humans have now been apporved in Sweden, China, and the United
Kindom. In Stockholm Fredrik Lanner is working on editing genes in
uhman embryos. Back in aprial 6 of 2016 a University in Chian used
gene editing CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce a mutation that would make a
human resistant to HIV infection. Looking at the ethics of the
situation, “I don’t think there is anything wrong with what these
scientists have done,” says Sarah Chan, a bioethicist at the
University of Edinburgh, UK. “This work isn’t seeking to do what
is still ethically in question. It’s not seeking to create
genetically modified human beings.”
The idea of being help to change
genetics in an embryo to stop expression of genetic diseases or even
unwanted genetic expression seems kind of like science fiction. I
feel most people would be against something like it with out looking
at it's real benefits, possibly seeing it as unnatural.
“Fredrik Lanner, a stem-cell
biologist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, is preparing
experiments that involve editing genes in human embryos ”
I hate that stem cell research is frowned upon. Yet, I also understand where the controversy comes from. It is just a matter of perspective. The things that can come out of stem cell research can really benefit the world. As in their example, what if they can genetically alter stem cells to help prevent hiv infection? Revolutionary!
ReplyDeleteTo me, some aspects of genetically altering embryo's genes is unethical. I do not think that people should be able to "design" their perfect child. But, choosing a child's eye color and preventing HIV are two completely different things. I think this is absolutely amazing that they have advanced their research so much that they will one day be able to prevent diseases from occurring by altering genes.
ReplyDeleteI am for this movement of gene editing. I believe that more funding should go into the topic. It should be used to help fix harmful elements found in humans. I do not think it should be used to decide a person's eye color, their height, etc.
ReplyDelete