Scientists want firmer guidelines on genetic editing

An international group of scientists have called for a moratorium on editing DNA to prevent genetically modified births.

He Jiankui claims to have genetically tailored humans. Picture: AP

An international group of research­ers, including inventors of popular gene-editing tool Crispr, have called for a worldwide moratorium on editing DNA in human sperm, eggs and embryos to prevent births of genetically modified babies.

The group of 18 scientists said in a paper published in the journal Nature­ that a moratorium would prevent irresponsible use of the technology before it causes irrever­sible changes, especially after a research­er in China announced last November that he had produced the first genetically modified babies.

The reported births made it clear that “previous statements didn’t go far enough and they could go farther and now is the time to say so”, said Eric Lander, one of the lead authors of the paper.

Yet other scientists refused to join the call, showing that researchers disagree about how best to balance encouraging research into the technology’s potential while deterring irresponsible use.

Opinions divided some of Crispr’s closest collaborators while bringing together rivals. Crispr inventor­ Jennifer Doudna was among those who didn’t sign the request­, though her co-inventor Emmanuelle Charpentier did.

He Jiankui, the Chinese doctor who claims to have engineered the birth of the first two genetically tailored humans, said that ­another woman had been implanted with a genetically modified embryo. The doctor faced criticism from his peers at a gene-editing conference in Hong Kong.

Dr Doudna, a professor at the University of California, said she opposed implanting ­edited embry­os in humans for now but supported research into it.

When asked to sign onto the Nature comment, she said: “I feel it is a bit late to be calling for a moratorium.” She also said there were probably more effective ways to stop rogue scientists.

Gene-editing technology and the Crispr tool, in particular, have been racing ahead even as scientists still try to sort out ethical issues­ around its use. Discovered in 2012, Crispr allows scientists to cut, edit and insert new DNA. The cross-disciplinary Broad Institute and a group that includes Dr Charpentier and UC Berkeley are involved in a legal dispute over rights to the technology.

Biotechs and other companies are trying to develop therapies using the technology, and some clinical trials in patients with cancer­ and other diseases are under way around the world.

But many scientists remain concerned that editing human sperm, eggs or embryos — known as the germline — would make unwanted changes inherited by future generations. The proposed moratorium wouldn’t stop research­ on editing human eggs, embryos or sperm, but would forbid implanting them, to prevent births with the germline changes.

In their paper, the 18 scientists recommended an initial moratorium period lasting five years to allow time to establish some kind of international framework. Many countries already have laws in place that prevent using germline editing to establish pregnancies, but the scientists suggested that those countries that want to move forward afterwards should publicly announce their intentions and wait another two years for further discussion and feedback.

The scientists also recommended the creation of an international panel composed of scientists, patients and others to provide information and advice.

The Wall Street Journal