First Human Embryos Edited in U.S.

Disir

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Sep 30, 2011
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The first known attempt at creating genetically modified human embryos in the United States has been carried out by a team of researchers in Portland, Oregon, MIT Technology Review has learned.

The effort, led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov of Oregon Health and Science University, involved changing the DNA of a large number of one-cell embryos with the gene-editing technique CRISPR, according to people familiar with the scientific results.

Until now, American scientists have watched with a combination of awe, envy, and some alarm as scientists elsewhere were first to explore the controversial practice. To date, three previous reports of editing human embryos were all published by scientists in China.

Now Mitalipov is believed to have broken new ground both in the number of embryos experimented upon and by demonstrating that it is possible to safely and efficiently correct defective genes that cause inherited diseases.
EXCLUSIVE: First human embryos edited in U.S., using CRISPR

A line drawn at genetic enhancements. Pfftt.....
 
Scary shit. I just have a feeling that God will be intervening soon.

Naw, he's too busy "Not Existing".

But this is bothersome for a number of reasons.

Will we have a world where the rich can get their babies "edited" for intelligence, looks, health, giving them an unfair advantage beyond the unfair advantage they already have being wealthy.

Will we have a world, some time in the future, where people are genetically engineered to fulfill tasks or niches in society- a genetic caste system?
 
Every new technology is fraught with dangers and opportunities. This one is no different. And it will be used and misused, for the benefits and possibilities are too great to be ignored. Once again, we are reminded that we need some law that applies worldwide. And, once again, fears of loss of national sovereignty will prevent any kinds of international laws. And we can expect to see this technology misused in many, if not most, nations.
 

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