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Scientists have created what is believed to be the first genetically modified (GM) human embryo.
A team from Cornell University in New York produced the GM embryo to study how early cells and diseases develop. It was destroyed after five days.
The British regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), has warned that such controversial experiments cause “large ethical and public interest issues”.
News of the development comes days before MPs are to debate legislation that would allow scientists to use similar techniques in this country.
The effects of changing an embryo would be permanent. Genes added to embryos or reproductive cells, such as sperm, will affect all cells in the body and will be passed on to future generations.
The technology could potentially be used to correct genes which cause diseases such as cystic fibrosis, haemophilia and even cancer. In theory, any gene that has been identified could be added to embryos.
Ethicists warn that genetically modifying embryos could lead to the addition of genes for desirable traits such as height, intelligence and hair colour.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which will have its second reading this week, will make it legal to create GM embryos in Britain.
The bill will allow GM embryos to be created only for research and will ban implantation in the womb. Ethicists, however, say that the legislation could be relaxed in the future.
The HFEA has said that it is preparing for scientists to apply for licences to create GM embryos. A paper, published by the authority, states: “The bill has taken away all inhibitions on genetically altering human embryos for research. The Science and Clinical Advances Group [of the HFEA] thought there were large ethical and public interest issues and that these should be referred for debate.”
The Cornell team, led by Nikica Zaninovic, used a virus to add a gene, a green fluorescent protein, to an embryo left over from in vitro fertilisation.
The research was presented at a meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine last year but details have emerged only after the HFEA highlighted the work in a review of the technology.
Zaninovic pointed out that in order to be sure that the new gene had been inserted and the embryo had been genetically modified, scientists would ideally need to grow the embryo and carry out further tests.
The Cornell team did not have permission to allow the embryo to progress, however.
Scientists argue that the embryos could be used to study how diseases develop. They also say GM embryos could be more efficient in generating stem cells.
However, Dr David King, director of Human Genetics Alert, warned: “This is the first step on the road that will lead to the nightmare of designer babies and a new eugenics. The HFEA is right to say that the creation and legalisation of GM embryos raises ‘large ethical and public interest issues’ but neglects to mention that these have not been debated at all.”
He added: “I have been speaking to MPs all week and no one knows that the government is legalising GM embryos. The public has had enough of scientists sneaking these things through and then presenting us with a fait accompli.”
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We are NOT "GOD". We might start out just getting rid of diseases, but once we start tinkering, where will it end? It won't! Humans are NEVER satisfied.
We may accidentally remove tenacity, will 2 survive, ability to love & care, the ability to have leaps of intuition????
Shanleigh, Cape Town, South Africa
Human beings UNITE! Oppose the degradation of our species! Why call those experimenters "scientists"? We did not elevate the Nazi experiments on prisoners of war to the level of science, much less medicine. Human embryos created and destroyed in the name of "science" are a global class of POW's.
Maureen, New Cumberland, USA
Not having the question put to public debate is the real downfall of passing any such legislation. Modifying an embryo has ethical repercussions that once legalized, will reverberate for decades to come. The idea should be well publicized and critiqued before any movement forward takes place.
Alyson, Toronto,
The ones who are against these experiments shouldn't be given the advantage of treatment in the future from diseases such as cancer or haemophilia if they continue their ethical quest, I for one is waiting for a cure to get rid of my cancer.
Mona Sulaiman, Phoenix,
All this talk of eugenics reminds me of Margaret Sanger and the history of Planned Parenthood. Don't know what I'm talking about? Read Killer Angel by George Grant.
Lisa, Indiana, USA
We've already got GM humans - the patients of gene therapy. And, we already give medicine and even perform surgery on infants. So, I don't see any problem with gene therapy on children before they are born. Sure, we don't understand everything, but we should still help our children as much as we can
Josh, Brisbane, Australia
A brave new world...It's amazing :D
Consider the possibility of removing genetic diseases; we could have a future where nobody needs suffer from alzheimers, cancer, diebetes and so on. Parents with genetic diseases could finally have babies without worrying if the child will suffer their affliction
Karl-Erlend Mikalsen, Trondheim, Norway
I am disgusted with the whole issue. When is man going to come to their senses. We have no right to create or to take life, that's God's job,We are messing about with his creation and if we keep on this path then He will act, some of which is taking place right now. Please Pray all you who beleive.
Pat Brooks, Spalding, U K
As we learned in WWII, man can become very evil once he starts to pick who will live and who will die. Will Britian become the new Germany and unleash untold suffering on mankind? Beware of those who commit evil to do good.
taad, louisville, usa
Is there not a scientists' world ethics group where they can discuss this and present their recommendations, most especially the fact that they are becoming "creators" and the "embryos", who may later become (God forbid!) a person out of experiment for the sole purpose of "science", and selfishness!
Aurelia Bertocchi, Toronto, Canada
To start with I am NOT A REIGLIOUS NUT, But give me a break!!!!!!!!!!! Read your bible people. We are living and acting out every word of revelation's. , Next thing you know like one comment was made the rich would have perfect babies and the poor , would get thrown to the side like trash .
Lola B Harvey, Lucedale, Ms, USA
Go for it. It'll add an interesting wrinkle to the collapse of civilization, climate, and life as we know it.
Paul Lacques, los angeles, leading the charg, usa, leading the collapse
Great what happens when one of these genetically modified embryos gets out, is born, and passes on his genes to his descendants.
Guy, New York,
Humans will take the control that God had out of his hands weather we want to or not, this is just proof that we are smart enough to control our own destiny.
Carter Foulger, Salt Lake City, United States
I would imagine anything of this sort would incur rigorous testing and rightfully so. Once it's found to be rather safe, I say go for it. The fallacy I see among arguments against this, aside from the usual religious uproar, is the false assumption that it will automatically lead to social darwinism
Lily, Washington, USA
I'm thoroughly disgusted. When will enough voices shout loudly enough for the world to heed that NO ONE has the right to interfere with a HUMAN EMBRYO. The scientists think of themselves above accountability; want to play god, make judgments about life;at the same time they mock GOD! Beware.
Antoinette, Queens, N.Y.
Scientists are fooling around with the basic stuff of life. There are some scientists who will try to create a being of their own design.
They are experimenting with living beings. Embryos are alive, much as some people would prefer not to believe, because it would interfere with their promiscuity
Jean, New York, USA
A typical example of Tax Dollars used to fund a project of which the public has absolutely no democratic say.
Nothing is stopped in advance, then, experiments and projects become defacto-legal simply by the fact that they have already occurred.
Jeff Johns, Palmyra, USA
Having the nerve to advocate torturing some poor defensless animal in order to play God makes my heart break.
It is way past time to stop harming animals and each other. Thou shalt not kill...
Wakien, America
Winyan Staz Wakien, Washington, U.S.A.
These mad scientists are totally out of control, They will completely destroy life on this Planet but before they do this, monsters will be created as in days of old. Which is why that old technology advanced civilisation were destroyed, you cannot mess with nature without being punished.
Arthur Guy, Gloucester, England
Ed Pell, I totally agree with you. The only one I can really think of would be widening the gap between rich and poor. Only the rich would be able to get designer babies ie rich would have tall, blonde, intellegent babies while poor have genetically inferior babies.
Andrew Z, Hicksville,, USA
While human genome modification has some huge ups and downs, why don't we start with something a little easier? Use pet animals to test appearance changes and burden animals that aren't normally eaten to test biological improvements. Leave the human genome until we know what we're doing.
James, Boca Raton, USA
It's Gattaca, baby!
Nick, Boston, USA
The potential benefits of such technology are truly staggering. Though fears of the misapplication of such knowledge are certainly well-founded, they must be couched in the understanding that we have made similarly radical advances in the past and have not yet destroyed ourselves.
Bryan, Katonah, USA
I'm glad to see the US at the forefront in yet another world changing technology. Religious and moralistic fears aside, this is realistically the next logical progression of human technology. It will be explored. I'd prefer we do it.
Mike, notre dame,
I hope that the previous post was only joking. At this stage of the game, we have not a clue as to what the potential future consequences may be. We're still living with the consequences of scientists who played with nuclear weapons tests, and we have yet to determine the consequences of GM food.
Fred, Reading, USA
A brave new world.....truly frightening.
Joe, Eureka, USA
Being able to design good features into the genome of ones child seems like a great good to me. One feature I would like to see added is internal vitamin C production. I would load in as many positives features as are available.
Ed Pell, Rhinebeck, USA