The Chinese have edited the DNA of a human embryo a second time.
Ethical or not, the Chinese continue to gain new knowledge in this area.
Photo: Sandy Huffaker / Getty
Scientists from China reported on the modification of the human embryo genome. This is the second attempt of the Chinese. The first was carried out last year - then experts tried to extract the gene that is responsible for the appearance of a rare blood disease. As previously reported at Geektimes , a team of researchers from Sun Yat Sen University in Guangzhou managed to replace the "defective" DNA segment, which led to the development of a serious disease, with a normal, defect-free area. Such changes can, over time, lead to a cure for a number of genetic diseases, as well as edit the appearance of the unborn child and eliminate genes that lead to mental retardation.
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This time, another team of scientists from the Guangzhou Medical University conducted a similar experience . Only the genes are no longer cut, and added. Specialists tried to insert a mutation into the DNA that would allow a person to become resistant to the effects of HIV.
In the past, out of 86 zygotes, only 71 survived in the process of “treatment”, and only four managed to replace the “defect” in DNA with a normal segment. Therefore, Chinese scientists considered their method partially suitable for use, declaring the need to improve the technology.
The work was carried out according to the CRISPR method .
Nanoinector, which was used during the previous experiment
Now the results are about the same. In the clinic for infertility patients, 213 fertilized eggs were collected from 87 patients. 26 cells were selected for the experiment and only 4 were successfully processed. At the same time, a part of embryos received unplanned mutations - a side effect of the technology, partially described last year. After the experiment, all embryos were destroyed after three days.
According to experts who familiarized themselves with the results of research, the results of the work are both pleasing and disturbing. Pleased - because the technology worked in a similar way and the second time. It is alarming, since using this technology has side effects that were observed during the first experiment.
Despite the fact that the experiment was only partially successful, the data obtained during the execution of the experiment are very valuable for science. Perhaps next time, Chinese scientists will be able to "cure" a larger number of embryos.
As for European countries, the United States is still discussing the ethical side of the issue. Many scientific publications, including Nature and Science, refuse to publish the work of Chinese scientists on this subject.
Photo: Sandy Huffaker / Getty
Scientists from China reported on the modification of the human embryo genome. This is the second attempt of the Chinese. The first was carried out last year - then experts tried to extract the gene that is responsible for the appearance of a rare blood disease. As previously reported at Geektimes , a team of researchers from Sun Yat Sen University in Guangzhou managed to replace the "defective" DNA segment, which led to the development of a serious disease, with a normal, defect-free area. Such changes can, over time, lead to a cure for a number of genetic diseases, as well as edit the appearance of the unborn child and eliminate genes that lead to mental retardation.
')
This time, another team of scientists from the Guangzhou Medical University conducted a similar experience . Only the genes are no longer cut, and added. Specialists tried to insert a mutation into the DNA that would allow a person to become resistant to the effects of HIV.
In the past, out of 86 zygotes, only 71 survived in the process of “treatment”, and only four managed to replace the “defect” in DNA with a normal segment. Therefore, Chinese scientists considered their method partially suitable for use, declaring the need to improve the technology.
The work was carried out according to the CRISPR method .
Nanoinector, which was used during the previous experiment
Now the results are about the same. In the clinic for infertility patients, 213 fertilized eggs were collected from 87 patients. 26 cells were selected for the experiment and only 4 were successfully processed. At the same time, a part of embryos received unplanned mutations - a side effect of the technology, partially described last year. After the experiment, all embryos were destroyed after three days.
According to experts who familiarized themselves with the results of research, the results of the work are both pleasing and disturbing. Pleased - because the technology worked in a similar way and the second time. It is alarming, since using this technology has side effects that were observed during the first experiment.
Despite the fact that the experiment was only partially successful, the data obtained during the execution of the experiment are very valuable for science. Perhaps next time, Chinese scientists will be able to "cure" a larger number of embryos.
As for European countries, the United States is still discussing the ethical side of the issue. Many scientific publications, including Nature and Science, refuse to publish the work of Chinese scientists on this subject.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/392867/
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