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Many [scientists, concerned citizens and public officials] have noted the alarming speed with which CRISPR is being applied in research labs, including in editing human embryos, outside public scrutiny. Absent consistent laws or guidelines, there are growing concerns that rogue researchers may conclude that it is “safe enough” to implant edited embryos for pregnancy.
Given the competitive pressures in the world of science, the commercial incentives to be “first to market,” and the forum-shopping inherent to today’s biomedical enterprise, the “three-person IVF” child born in Mexico is a cautionary tale. Someone, somewhere could soon decide to try for a CRISPR baby. We should aim to protect future children from being born stripped of their privacy and guaranteed a life of medical display and tracking that was justifiedon their behalf to service goals like parental genetic connection.
We need a federal ban on any private or publically funded research aimed at clinical tests of human germline interventions and specifically against the use of gene-edited human germ cells in assisted reproduction. We also need an international conversation on how to pressure the biomedical sector in a range of political contexts to stay away from the human germline.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: CRISPR Embryos at Karolinska: Controversies Demand Oversight