Scientists take first steps to growing human organs in pigs

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/ap/scientists-take-first-steps-to-growing-human-organs-in-pigs/article_edb4e1bd-7055-54d9-bac2-6e4eb93c4f3e.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15454959

In this article, scientists took the next step forward in genetics. Malcolm Ritter wrote about how human cells have been placed inside the embryos of pigs. These types of animals with cells from different species are called chimeras. The injected human stem cells in the pigs are projected to be the first step towards growing livers, hearts, pancreases, and other human organs. The researchers believe this will ease the shortage of human donors for transplants. As the pigs grow the human organs will grow in place of their own. Once the organs are ready to be removed, the pigs will be euthanized. Even though such mixing has been done on rats and mice before, this type of  human-animal research has raised ethical concerns in the science world.

My older brother came to me with this article in the Atlantic City Press. This type of information sounds so futuristic and bizarre to me. I have heard of people using pig valves for heart repairs, but never would I think of using pigs to harvest human organs. This is an amazing revolution for doctors and transplant patients. This will most definitely be up for ethical discussions among certain individuals, but I believe this will save the lives of many.

Britain Gives Permission for Gene Experimentation on Human Embryos

Last Monday, Britain has officially given permission to scientists to conduct gene-editing experimentation on human embryos. This landmark decision may be the beginning to what many ethicists say will lead to "designer babies." Others believe it may be the beginning of "super-soldiers."

Although researchers will not be creating human life, they will be modifying the embryos to better understand human fertility, disease and miscarriages. The human embryos are set to be destroyed seven days after modification. I believe this factor to be a mistake, because if you are to do the science you should not do it half-heartedly. How much data can you get from an embryo in seven days that takes 9 months to mature? My guess would be an insufficient amount for proper research.

The team carrying out the research will be led by Kathy Niakan, who plans to use the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing method, a relatively fast and cheap approach published in 2012. In short, CRISPR-Cas9 allows researchers to pinpoint a target gene and cut it using the Cas9 protein. By using this method, they will essentially begin to use a "biological cut-and-paste method," one that could bring huge benefits to research and/or unintended consequences for the future.

This Aug. 8, 2008 file photo, shows embryos being placed onto a CryoLeaf ready for instant freezing using the vitrification process. In a statement Monday Feb. 1, 2016, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, Britain’s fertility regulator, has approved a scientist’s application to edit the human genetic code using a new technique that some fear crosses too many ethical boundaries.

Global summit reveals divergent views on human gene editing

 

   The International Summit of Gene Editing was held on December 1-3.  The conference consisted of over 500 scientists from 20 different countries.  At this conference the scientists discussed the ethical issues that genome alterations bring. Much of the discussion surrounded an April publication by Chinese researchers who used the gene-editing technology CRISPR–Cas9 to modify a gene in non-viable human embryos.  This is where most of the controversy normally arises, whether or not genetic changes should be done to embryos.  Most countries have some kind of limit of the research that can be done on human embryos.  Some countries ban any kind of gene-editing on human embryos.  Ethicists also brought up the point that down the round gene-editing on embryos will cause inequality and discriminations, because only wealthy parents will be able to make an alteration to their embryo if they had the choice.
      In my own opinion I feel that no matter what way you look at this topic there will always to controversial view points.  I feel like there should be more of these conferences to discuss the different viewpoints of countries around the world on gene-editing.

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China Genetically Alters Genes of Embryos Causing Ethically Concern

Chinese scientists report that they have conducted experimentation that was dreaded by the scientific community. They have attempted to alter the DNA of embryos and the experimentation has failed in the exact manner that gave rise to original concerns. The New York Times reports on this failed experiment, emphasizing the ethical concerns involved in genetic modifications like this.


The scientists used defective human embryos hoping to produce an embryo with a precisely altered gene in every cell with no other DNA damage. All 85 human embryos failed mostly with death or no successful alteration. Of the four embryos with successful alterations there were other complications. A significant concern is that this may be a baseline for more research, since four almost worked. The other concern is that once these genetic alterations are made, they are permanent and will be passed onto later progeny.


A few months back there was another related article in regards to heritable diseases. The method discussed in both articles was known as Crispr/Cas9, which studies how the system  bacteria use to protect themselves from viruses and allows researchers to cut out selected genes and insert new ones. More and more laboratories are using this methodology and it is alarming to see the race for man to play God regardless of the potential concerns.


In my opinion, this is a very scary place for us to be scientifically, while we could be on the brink of making huge advancements in preventing genetic problems we could also be on the brink of ultimate genetic disaster.