British scientists granted permission to genetically modify human embyros

British scientists have been granted permission to
genetically modify human embryos by the fertility
regulator. The Francis Crick Institute could begin
thecontroversial experiments as early as March
after the Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority(HFEA) gave the green light this
morning.
The scientists want to deactivate genes in
leftover embryos from IVF clinics to see if it
hinders development.
It will only be the second time in the world that
such a procedure has been undertaken and the
first time it has been directly approved by a
regulator. A Chinese team carried out similar
experiments last year to widespread outcry.
Currently around 50 per cent of fertilised eggs do
not develop properly and experts believe that
faulty genetic code could be responsible.
If scientists knew which genes were crucial for
healthy cell division, then they could screen out
embryos where their DNA was not working
properly, potentially preventing miscarriages and
aiding fertility.
The initial pilot, which will also have to pass an
ethics evaluation, will involve up to 30 embryos
and the team would like to work on a further
three genes, which could bring the total of to
120.
Critics warn that allowing embryos to be edited
opens the door to designer babies and genetically
modified humans.
But lead scientist Dr Kathy Niakan said that the
research could fundamentally change our
understanding of human biology and give hope to
prospective parents.
“We would really like to understand the
genes that are needed for an embryo to
develop into a healthy baby,” she told a
briefing in central London last month.
“Miscarriage and infertility are extremely
common but they are not very well
understood. We believe that this research
could improve our understanding of the
very earliest stages of human life.
“The reason why I think this is so important
is that most human embryos fail to reach
the blastocyst stage. Over 50 per cent will
fail so this window is absolutely critical.
“If we were to understand the genes, it
could really help us improve infertility
treatment and provide crucial insights into
the causes of miscarriage.”
The team at Francis Crick are already in talks
with fertility clinics across the country to use their
spare embryos.
Sir Paul Nurse, director of the Crick, said:
“I am delighted that the HFEA has approved
Dr Niakan’s application. Dr Niakan’s
proposed research is important for
understanding how a healthy human
embryo develops and will enhance our
understanding of IVF success rates, by
looking at the very earliest stage of human
development - one to seven days.”
Currently it is not illegal to edit human embryos
for research purposes although it has never been
done before because they technology has not
been available.
When China announced it had carried out similar
experiments last year there was a widespread
outcry.
A spokesman for the HFEA said:
“Our Licence Committee has approved an
application from Dr Kathy Niakan of the Francis
Crick Institute to renew her laboratory’s research
licence to include gene editing of embryos.
“The committee has added a condition to the
licence that no research using gene editing may
take place until the research has received
research ethics approval.
“As with all embryos used in research, it is illegal
to transfer them to a woman for treatment.”
All cells in a human embryo have the same DNA
code, but they divide into specialised cells
depending on gene expression.
Between day five and seven of human
development and embryo has around 200 cells of
three different types. One set will go on to form
the foetus , while another type becomes the
placenta, and the third kind the yolk sac which
nourishes growing baby. The aim of the new
project is to find out what causes the cells to
turn into different kinds, a process known as
‘lineage specification.’
The new genetic editing technique, called Crispr,
acts like molecular scissors to snip out part of
the DNA code so that scientists can see if it was
needed.
“Crispr is so efficient and precise that it can go
inside a single volume, open up, a specific page,
identify a single word, and alter a single letter,”
added Prof Niakan.
The first gene that the team is planning to
deactivate is OCT4, which in mice appears to be
crucial for the healthy development of foetal cells.
However British scientists were among 150
experts who in November called for a worldwide
ban on genetic editing of embryos claiming the
practice could open the door to ‘irrevocably
altering the human species.’
Dr Calum MacKellar, Director of Research of the
Scottish Council on Human Bioethics said:
“Allowing the gene editing of embryos opens the
road to genetically modifying all the descendants
of a person as well as full blown eugenics which
was condemned by all civilised societies after the
Second World War.”
“It is the very future of the way in which societies
accept persons with disabilities that is at play
since such gene editing procedures infer that they
should not have been brought into existence.”
Gene therapy has been available since the 1970s
but it is only recently that scientists have
developed technology which can snip out parts of
genetic code
The technique could permanently remove harmful
mutations which lead to inherited diseases like
Huntingdon’s, cystic fibrosis and haemophilia,
critics say it could have unexpected side effects
any may damage healthy strands of DNA.
Alastair Kent, Director of Genetic Alliance UK,
said: "“Understanding the crucial process of
embryo development could help us to understand
causes of infertility, miscarriage and some genetic
diseases.
"The team at the Crick Institute have explained to
the HFEA why they would like to use genome
editing to investigate embryo development and
the HFEA have authorised the research to
proceed. We hope that this avenue of research is
fruitful, and that genome editing is as powerful a
research tool as it currently seems to be."