A group of British researchers have received permission to use the method of "gene editing" of human embryos, which, according to scientists, will help us better understand the process of early development of human life.
The right to conduct such research has received a group of scientists from the London Institute of Francis Kirk. Scientists want to conduct new experiments with fertilized eggs and see how their development occurs in the first seven days after fertilization - from a single cell to a blastocyst (germinal vesicle), which already consists of about 250 cells.
Through the use of genetic engineering techniques, researchers will try to learn more about our DNA and to identify the exact requirements necessary for the development of completely healthy embryos. With such information, specialists and doctors in hospitals will be able (at least in theory) to carry out manipulations to improve the condition and development of embryos, as well as to look for more effective methods in the fight against infertility.
The Department of Fertilization and Human Embryology of Great Britain approved the above experiments, but before the start of direct research it is necessary to solve the issue of "ethical nature". Once all points of contention have been resolved, a group of researchers led by Dr. Kathy Niyakan will have access to embryos that will be voluntarily provided by patients undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures. According to British media, the use of embryos obtained by any other means will be illegal for scientists.
The use of genetic engineering methods, in particular on human embryos, still remains a very controversial issue in many countries around the world. Some people believe that this is a natural process of the further evolution of medical science, while others think that this is a very dangerous and controversial step towards the technologies of “design of children”.
However, there are countries where these fears and prejudices do not care at all. Chinese scientists, for example, are conducting experiments to modify the genes of human embryos responsible for fatal blood diseases. In addition, gene therapy methods are used to save lives. Specialists at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London used gene therapy and cured a one-year-old girl for leukemia.
Anyway, most of the possibilities that genetic engineering promises us are still only in theory, but the experiments proposed by the Francis Kirk Institute can open up great prospects for us in medicine. However, in order to have the opportunity to open all these perspectives, researchers will need to at least convince the public that these scientific experiments do not overlap with the public concept of ethical norms.
The article is based on materials .
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