Henry Greely, professor of genetics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences at Stanford University: I see no real issues unless or until the cells are used to make babies or to treat people - basic research without putting things in people doesn’t raise any concerns for me in this context.įor making babies, the biggest issue to me is the safety of the baby. Here, a selection of bioethicists share their thoughts on how we should move into the brave new world of CRISPR. This week, hundreds of scientists convened in Washington, D.C., for a conference to talk about the ethics of editing the human genome, and to try to shape an international consensus on how the technology should and shouldn’t be used. Naturally, fears about designer babies and eugenics were not far behind. In April, scientists in China announced they’d used CRISPR to edit the genes of human embryos. Researchers have already used the method on an astonishing range of experiments, from engineering mosquitos to resist the parasite that causes malaria, to creating miniature pigs and stopping cancer cells from multiplying. CRISPR allows scientists to quickly and cheaply edit, delete or replace any gene in any plant or animal. Today, a revolutionary technology called CRISPR-Cas9 has some scientists worrying that Huxley’s bleak vision isn’t so implausible, at least when it comes to having the necessary technology. ![]() ![]() The Huffington Post quotes Professor Hank Greely on how new technology in genetic deletion could affect scientific research.Īldous Huxley’s Brave New World tells the story of a government that manipulates people’s genes to deepen the divides between social classes, creating a race of superhumans and a race of slaves.
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