UK scientists want to perform gene editing on human embryos

British scientists have applied for permission to perform new “genome editing” techniques on older-than-two-week human embryos for the first time.

The UK-based Francis Crick Institute said in a statement on Friday that it applied to the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority to get a license to perform gene editing on human embryos and in order to understand the genes they need to develop successfully.

According to the statement, the project will be for research purposes and will not necessarily have clinical application, however, “the knowledge acquired from the research…might provide better clinical treatments for infertility.”

In 2008, the UK parliament approved an amendment in the country’s legislation regarding in vitro fertilization, allowing genetic manipulation of embryos less than 14 days old for research purposes. It is still illegal to implant genetically modified embryos into the womb.

“If we receive a license, I would hope to start work as soon as possible… However, it is difficult to know how long it will take to carry out the project. In particular, we need to obtain sufficient embryos,” said Dr. Kathy Niakan, a stem cell biologist who leads research at the Crick, insisting that their research would not lead to the so-called designer babies.

Earlier this year, a public outcry was raised when China succeeded in modifying human genome with many fearing that such technology could be used to engineer flawless humans.

“There are suggestions that the methods could be used to correct genetic defects, to provide disease resistance, or even to introduce novel traits that are not found in humans… However, it is up to society to decide what is acceptable: science will merely inform what may be possible” Niakan further said.

Genome editing has been performed for research purposes for a number of years but recent advances mean that such manipulations can be done in a more precise way.

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