United Kingdom approves human ‘gene-editing’ following Chinese research

Reuters reports that the U.K.’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has approved a research application from the Francis Crick Institute to use “gene editing” techniques on human embryos. The Crispr technique could be used to change human early embryos, sperm and eggs, unlike other types of genetic techniques that alter only adult human tissues. Critics warn that altering the genetic code this way could eventually lead to so-called designer babies, where people seek smarter or stronger kids with particular physical features.

The work could begin in the next few months.

It is not the first time a country has genetically modified human embryos. The fertilized eggs will be donated by couples with a surplus of them after in vitro fertilization treatment, as the Guardian has reported, and can not legally be studied for more than two weeks or implanted into women to achieve a pregnancy.

But in the UK’s case, the technology is for now far more limited – the HFEA regulations state any donated embryos can only be used for research purposes and not for treatment.

Overnight, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority gave the go-ahead to Dr Kathy Niakan, who studies human development at the Francis Crick Institute in London.

While scientists have always been able to find defective genes, fixing them has been so cumbersome that it’s slowed development of genetic therapies.

Dr David King, the director of Human Genetics Alert, said: “This research will allow the scientists to refine the techniques for creating GM babies, and numerous government’s scientific advisers have already decided that they are in favour of allowing that”.

But Niakan says her edited genes will not be used in human reproduction, but for basic research only.

Gene editing involves using molecular tools to fix, replace or delete defective DNA samplings.

The approval will pave the way for better understanding of the earliest stages of embryo development. Niakan and her team will use CRISPR/Cas9 to block the activity of OCT4, a crucial regulatory gene, in early embryonic cells.

Niakan’s approval just came through: The HFEA ruled this week that the Crick team could perform its research, making it the first British research team with approval to use CRISPR on human embryos.

Dr Niakan believes an understanding of the genes could really provide insights into the causes of miscarriage, and help scientists improve infertility treatment.

The alterations produced by the means of the Crispr gene editing technique would be inherited by the patient’s offspring.

Within the United States, similar experimenting is permitted by the National Institute inasmuch as scientists can not receive federal funds for the research but are permitted to be subsidized by private donors.