United states : the genes of human embryos modified by CRISPR

vchalup2/Epictura

Published the 29.07.2017 at 09h21

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génétiqueembryonCRISPR-Cas9

This is a first in the United States. Researchers from the university of Oregon would be able to change the DNA of many embryos, using the technique of “molecular scissors” CRISPR, according to the MIT Technology Rewiew.

If this is not a world first, a chinese team had already tried the experiment, but had failed where the Americans seem to have succeeded. The use of CRISPR had not given the expected results, especially because the technique had not acted on all the cells of the embryo. What was left uncertain of the risks related to the use of molecular scissors.

Brake ethical

But this time, the american team of Shoukhrat Mitalipov, an american biologist of origin Kazakh universally recognized, would be able to show that it is possible to avoid both this “mosaicism” is genetic, and the changes of DNA, off-target, that is to say, the collateral damage on the DNA. The researchers have modified several dozens of embryos, that are destroyed after a few days of development, as the legislation requires for the moment.

Up to now, no one had yet dared to tackle a subject as sensitive in Addition to-Atlantic, in particular because of the limitations and ethical. But a report of the Academy of sciences american published this year had opened a door, close, research on the modification of the DNA of the embryos, under very strict conditions. It was necessary, in particular, that these changes are aimed at the elimination of a disease, and not the improvement or modification of certain characteristics.

“Editing the genome that is designed to improve traits or abilities beyond the normal raises questions about the relationship between profits and risks that are related to it, and on equity, if only a few people have access to “, was, inter alia, said Alta Charo, professor of law and bioethics at the university of Wisconsin, and a member of the committee of the Academy of sciences.