US National Academics report paves the path forward for genetically modified babies with proper guidelines.

Courtesy: Business insider 

  

The US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine today submitted a report laying down guidelines for  genetically modifying human embryos to eliminate devastating genetic conditions.

This 261page report follows the conclusion of 2015 International Summit on Human Gene Editing. It took multidisciplinary committee experts a full year to perform in depth review of literature, monitoring the latest advancement and getting input from all the prominent players in field of human gene editing.

The committee set forth specific criteria before experimentation and clinical trials can begin regarding these heritable germline  mutation. The criteria for heritable germline editing by National Academy of Science and National Academy of medicine are:[1]

1. Absence of reasonable alternatives
2.  Restriction to preventing a serious disease or condition
3.  Restriction to editing genes that have been convincingly demonstrated to cause or to strongly predispose to the disease or condition
4. Restriction to converting such genes to versions that are prevalent in the population and are known to be associated with ordinary health with little or no evidence of adverse effects
5. Availability of credible pre-clinical and/or clinical data on risks and potential health benefits of the procedures
6. Ongoing, rigorous oversight during clinical trials of the effects of the procedure on the health and safety of the research participants
7.  Comprehensive plans for long-term, multigenerational follow-up while still respecting personal autonomy
8. Maximum transparency consistent with patient privacy
9. Continued reassessment of both health and societal benefits and risks, with broad on-going participation and input by the public
10. Reliable oversight mechanisms to prevent extension to uses other than preventing a serious disease or condition

At present genome editing, should not be used for creating designer human beings  with all the chosen, positive  traits.

Alta Charo, a bioethicist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and co-chair of the report said “Up until now, we’ve been talking only hypothetically and most people assumed we simply wouldn’t ever do this. We are not saying that you have to or you should, but we are saying that if you can meet these criteria it is permissible.”

Many researchers who opposed the gene editing technique where disappointed by the green signal.

George Church, a geneticist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts opined that it is difficult to draw a line between medical use and creating ‘super humans’. 

Scientist also expressed concerns over ‘Medical tourism’ as scientist working in countries with less stringent regulation will start modifying embryos for purpose other than medical reasons. 

The complete report can be download here

The summary of recommendations can be found here

The principles for the governance of Human Genome Editing can be found here.  

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[1] http://nationalacademies.org/cs/groups/genesite/documents/webpage/gene_177255.pdf