Chinese Scientist Visa Brings Gene Editing Ethics Back Into the Spotlight

Do you support or oppose gene editing?

  • 41.9k
    jimK
    Voted Oppose
    03/24/2023

    The risks of unintended consequences from edited genes is the greatest worrry that I have. Once an edited gene is introduced to the human genome it can conceivably by propogated to future generations. How all of the genes interact is not fully understood and the 'junk space' of genes has been found to effect the life processes thought to be solely controlled by a few specific genes.

    Gene editing should not solely be at the discretion of a single scientist or group without informed consent by a panel of knowledgeable scientist experts to minimize the potential of any long term impact.

    The human genome has been tailored by hundreds of thousand years of evolution to become what it is, and if you go back to beginnings of life, the human genome has been tailored by hundreds of millions of years altogether. Mistakes take a long time to weed out by evolutionary processes.

    Any treatments to cure debilitating genetic diseases need to be carefully monitored and fully assessed over long enough trial periods to assure that the genetic fix does not cause harm by side effects - such as curing that disease but introducing something worse in it's place.

    I recall the issues with thalidomide which was widely administered to pregnant women, many of whom gave birth horribly deformed babies. The trials for the use of thalidomide always administered the drug at roughly the the same time of day, I believe it was in the morning. It turns out that thalidomide interacts differently with diurnal hormones and that those folks who took their medicine at different times of the day suffered the birth defects. An unintended consequence not fully appreciated becuase the trails were constrained.

  • 91.7k
    LeslieG
    Voted Support
    03/24/2023

    Genetic editing treatments are divided into 2 types, treating existing diseases, and preventing inherited diseases. To date all clinical trials have been to treat existing diseases like cancer and none have been to treat inherited diseases which would require manipulating human embryos which involves many ethical issues.

    Following existing regulatory regulations for clinical trials, and eventual treatment review & approvals should make sure genetic editing to treat existing diseases is not misused.

    However, clinical trials for inherited diseases will require new regulatory frameworks due to the ethical issues in working with embryos. The only known experiment working with embryos was in China to create HIV resistance genetics but was heavily criticized around the world as it lack justification since HIV treatments exist. This type of genetic modification should be restricted to diseases with no known treatments.

    “Since CRISPR-based genome editing was first demonstrated in 2013, there have been over a dozen clinical trials for CRISPR-enabled therapeutics, including treatments for blood disorders, cancers, and even childhood blindness “

    "However, in 2018, before ethical questions around germline editing could make significant progress, He Jiankui of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China announced that he had used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the genomes of two human embryos. The edit he attempted to introduce was to break the human CCR5 gene, which encodes a protein used by HIV during infection. These embryos were implanted and carried to term, leading to the first babies born with heritable genome edits. The experiment was heavily criticized for its lack of transparency and its lack of clarity on whether the parents were properly informed of the risks. It was also criticized for its lack of justification given the existence of other safe and approved preventative measures for HIV, and given the lack of understanding of the risks of knocking out this gene."

    https://sciencepolicyreview.org/2020/08/therapeutic-gene-editing-is-here/

     

     

  • 3,959
    Jim2423
    03/24/2023

    My Grandfather had Huntington's, one of my aunt's, my Mother, my brother, my nephew inherited it. It is a bad thing to inherit it. It is so disabling. My Mother was a very healthy women, but lived twenty five years as a vegetable. My brother, my aunt, my nephew did not live near that long along with my Grandfather. It is sad we have scientists who venture out on their own, discrediting scientists who are working towards ending disabilities diseases. And the public only sees those clowns who were doing this for profit. 

  • 7,226
    DaveS
    03/26/2023

    China is now embracing MRNA because the standard way of make vaccines is not working

  • 6,582
    Bruce
    Voted Support
    03/25/2023

    It does not matter whether you support gene editing or not.  It's being done.  And it will continue to be done here and all around the world.  

    All we can do is to make these researchers act as safely and responsibly as possible. 

  • 1,663
    Nancy
    Voted Oppose
    03/24/2023

    Let God do what he does

  • 2,470
    Joan
    Voted Support
    03/26/2023

    "Do you support or oppose gene editing?" This question needs a 'maybe' response. Gene editing can have some wonderful benefits, as in the case of sickle cell disease. But it is undoubted that someone will break the ethical barrier to genetically engineer humans for non-disease purposes. Once that is done, there is no turning back. So that much be prevented.

  • 8,881
    Charles
    03/26/2023

    Support for researching exsisting diseases only, provided it is done safely.

  • 7,796
    PLZ
    Voted Support
    03/25/2023

    While I understand the concern that the elite will 'clone' the good genes, Indomfeel there may be something of value to eliminate the genes that are hereditary and debilitating.  
    I believe there should be guidelines as not to create a world of only upper elite or trophy babies.  

  • 2,700
    George
    Voted Support
    03/25/2023

    New science.... 

  • 3,658
    Kevin
    Voted Support
    03/25/2023

    Like stem cell research, the people opposed don't fully understand it.

  • 2,905
    Arlys
    03/24/2023

    We have no business messing with what the DIVINE created.  The only exception would be to improve the health problems that exist.  But that in itself can cause a lot of problems since each and everyone of us has similar yet different body chemistry and reactions to medications.  We need to learn to deal with what life hands us even if we don't like it.  Think of it as a "learning tool" to improve your own existance.  And the government doesn't even have to pay for it.  I refer to it as learning from life experiences, wins, and losses.  We are supposed to learn from mistakes and improve ourselves.  But that take guts, or courage if your prefer.  Life will continue on with or without us.

  • 46.2k
    Brian
    Voted Support
    03/24/2023

    I support limited gene editing, but not widespread use yet. The young woman in the US who has had her sickle-cell seemingly cured from gene editing gives me hope, and I think more test patients like her should be pursued and monitored for safety and effectiveness.

    However, the dangerous experiments that a Chinese scientist conducted on babies a few years ago are too much, and we're not ready for that yet.

    I see lots of promise on this technology, but let's keep experimenting slowly until we're sure it's safe for all.

  • 594
    Lyn Z
    Voted Support
    03/24/2023

    Generally support, but with restrictions for unethical usage.

     

  • 2,934
    Gdbondii
    Voted Support
    03/24/2023

    If we can edit out diseases.

  • 1,515
    Mike
    Voted Support
    03/24/2023

    I support RESEARCH into gene editing, with actual application to human beings prohibited for now.

  • 1,834
    Dawn
    Voted Oppose
    03/24/2023

    Just because we know HOW doesn't mean we should DO IT! Whether you believe in God or not, that doesn't give us the right to play at creation!