UK scientists just got approval to edit human embryos
BartSimpson @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:56 pm
http://www.vox.com/2016/2/1/10886644/cr ... -uk-niakan
Excerpt: More at the link!
$1:
Scientists in Britain just got approval to conduct research that involves editing the genetic material of healthy human embryos.
This is a big deal: The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is the first government agency in the world to endorse research that involves altering the human genome for research — a move that could signal broader acceptance for a promising (but controversial) new area of science.
The research team, led by Dr. Kathy Niakan at the UK's Francis Crick Institute, is trying to better understand which genes allow a healthy human embryo to develop. Niakan’s team will use a promising new technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9, to edit genes that are active following conception. They'll then stop the experiments at day seven and destroy the embryos (so that they can't be used to start a pregnancy).
The hope is that this gene hacking could help researchers better understand what causes miscarriages and infertility — and perhaps one day lead to better treatments for infertility.
If Niakan's application gets approval from an ethics board, the research could start within months. But editing the human genome using CRISPR has not been without its critics.
This is a big deal: The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is the first government agency in the world to endorse research that involves altering the human genome for research — a move that could signal broader acceptance for a promising (but controversial) new area of science.
The research team, led by Dr. Kathy Niakan at the UK's Francis Crick Institute, is trying to better understand which genes allow a healthy human embryo to develop. Niakan’s team will use a promising new technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9, to edit genes that are active following conception. They'll then stop the experiments at day seven and destroy the embryos (so that they can't be used to start a pregnancy).
The hope is that this gene hacking could help researchers better understand what causes miscarriages and infertility — and perhaps one day lead to better treatments for infertility.
If Niakan's application gets approval from an ethics board, the research could start within months. But editing the human genome using CRISPR has not been without its critics.
This opens a Pandora's Box full of implications. Parents will want tall, smart, healthy kids and governments and corporations will want obedient drones.
DrCaleb @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 1:09 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
This opens a Pandora's Box full of implications. Parents will want tall, smart, healthy kids and governments and corporations will want obedient drones.
CRISPR technology is fascinating. In addition to your Pandora's box, it also opens the possibility to fix and repair many genetic diseases, like Huntingtons or Lou Gehrig's disease.
And and always - it asks the question "because we can, does that mean we should?"
raydan @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 2:14 pm
DrCaleb DrCaleb:
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
This opens a Pandora's Box full of implications. Parents will want tall, smart, healthy kids and governments and corporations will want obedient drones.
CRISPR technology is fascinating. In addition to your Pandora's box, it also opens the possibility to fix and repair many genetic diseases, like Huntingtons or Lou Gehrig's disease.
And and always - it asks the question "because we can, does that mean we should?"
Seems that anything that can be used for good can also be abused.
BartSimpson @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 2:44 pm
I'm also wondering when Monsanto will get a patent on people.
raydan @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 3:09 pm
This is an announcement from Genetic Control:
"It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on humanoid height." 
martin14 @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 4:02 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
I'm also wondering when Monsanto will get a patent on people.
Only the red headed ones.
![[door]](./images/smilies/aaa.gif "Scared Door")
ShepherdsDog @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 5:26 pm
Meh. .....they are already soulless, so does it matter?
BartSimpson @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 5:28 pm
raydan raydan:
This is an announcement from Genetic Control:
"It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on humanoid height."
"It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on humanoid height."
Good news for Tom Cruise!
BartSimpson @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 5:29 pm
ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:
Meh. .....they are already soulless, so does it matter?
I am not soulless. I collect them and keep them in a jar.
Strutz @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 11:32 pm
DrCaleb DrCaleb:
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
This opens a Pandora's Box full of implications. Parents will want tall, smart, healthy kids and governments and corporations will want obedient drones.
CRISPR technology is fascinating. In addition to your Pandora's box, it also opens the possibility to fix and repair many genetic diseases, like Huntingtons or Lou Gehrig's disease.
And and always - it asks the question "because we can, does that mean we should?"
I agree it is fascinating. Eliminating genetic diseases would be great.
It is also terrifying. What if they "over-edit"? Mankind's ever-increasing desire to try to perfect the natural order of things could easily take this tech and create an even bigger problem we haven't heard of yet.
xerxes @ Mon Feb 01, 2016 11:52 pm
Good article on the technology here:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/16/the-gene-hackers
DrCaleb @ Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:53 am
raydan raydan:
DrCaleb DrCaleb:
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
This opens a Pandora's Box full of implications. Parents will want tall, smart, healthy kids and governments and corporations will want obedient drones.
CRISPR technology is fascinating. In addition to your Pandora's box, it also opens the possibility to fix and repair many genetic diseases, like Huntingtons or Lou Gehrig's disease.
And and always - it asks the question "because we can, does that mean we should?"
Seems that anything that can be used for good can also be abused.
Khaaaaaaaaann!
raydan @ Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:12 am
Since Bart was in the conversation, I was thinking "guns".
I wonder if he'd be open to "human genetic editing" control?
BartSimpson @ Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:27 am
raydan raydan:
Since Bart was in the conversation, I was thinking "guns".
I wonder if he'd be open to "human genetic editing" control?
I wonder if he'd be open to "human genetic editing" control?
The libertarian in me says no. But the libertarian in me that's also concerned about the abuse of power is not so trusting of this technology.
What I foresee as the end result of this technology will be a population of mostly docile, healthy, and specialized humans who have similarities but will be genetically engineered for specific purposes and will end up looking as diverse as breeds of dogs.
We'll have people engineered to be farmworkers. Other people will be engineered to be soldiers. Yet more will be engineered for other tasks.
Corporations will inevitably breed their own workers and own them as property.
And the people who are 'naturally' created will be openly discriminated against as second class citizens. Kind of like what we saw in the recent Superman movies.
Hmph. 100 years hence it may even be illegal to have a natural child.