Britain may need to change its IVF laws to allow the genetic modification of human embryos so that scientists can use a gene-editing technique that could eliminate certain inherited diseases, leading biomedical organisations warn.
At present it is illegal to alter the genes of reproductive “germ cells” such as eggs, sperm and embryos, but the clinical benefits of modifying the human germ-line could one day outweigh the ethical objections, says a statement by two government research councils and a coalition of medical research charities.
While the US has imposed a moratorium on the use of genome editing of human embryos, the joint statement implies that the day might soon come in the UK when it is ethically justified to implant the first genetically modified embryo in a womb.
The research organisations, which include the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, said there was no reason why the gene-editing technique known as Crispr-Cas9 should not be used immediately on early IVF embryos for research purposes provided they are not implanted into the womb – which is currently allowed under existing legislation.
They added there was the possibility that Crispr-Cas9 may eventually prove to be safe enough to use clinically on IVF embryos and human embryos and germ cells to help families suffering from inherited diseases to have healthy babies who will not suffer from or pass on the defect to future generations.
“We believe genome editing technologies may hold significant potential for clinical application in the future,” said the statement. –
The Independent