omicsonline | Genome editing technologies may in the future have therapeutic potential
for various incurable diseases: cancer, genetic disorders, HIV/AIDS to
mention the most obvious. Genome editing of somatic cells, which is at
it various clinical stages, is a promising area of therapeutic
development. This year, a group of Chinese researchers led by Junjiu
Huang - a gene-function researcher at Sun Yat-sen University in
Guangzhou, used complex enzyme-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 as a therapeutic
agent to eradicate the human β-globulin (HBB) gene from the germline of
the human embryo. The mutations in HBB gene cause β-thalassaemia (a
deadly blood disorder). The research was, however, not completely
successful, and had to be abandoned at its preliminary stage. This
research was published in the journal Protein and Cell after it was
rejected by the journal Nature and Science on ethical grounds. Caution
flags have been raised about the use of CRISPR-Cas9 on human germline
editing. This research has generated the debate among the world-renowned
scientists about the ethical concerns and implications of CRISPR-Cas9
human germline editing. While some members of the scientific community
have argued that a moratorium should be called on human germline
editing, others have argued that it is unethical to withhold a
technology that would eliminate devastating genetic diseases. This paper
critically evaluates the challenges, ethical concerns and implications
of CRISPR-Cas9 human germ line editing.
