China shocks world by genetically engineering human embryos

[IDemo]

Source: The Telegraph

China has been ordered to ‘rein in’ scientists who have edited the DNA of human embryos for the first time, a practice banned in Europe.

In a world’s first, researchers at the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou confirmed they had engineered embryos to modify the gene responsible for the fatal blood disorder thalassaemia.

The team, led by Junjiu Huang attempted to head off fears of eugenics by claiming the embyos were ‘non-viable’ and could never had become babies.

But critics warned that China was becoming the ‘Wild West’ of genetic research saying it was the first step towards designer children and called for a worldwide ban on the practice.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11558305/China-shocks-world-by-genetically-engineering-human-embryos.html

[hobbit709]

1. Who exactly is going to order China to do anything?

[Helen Borg]

2. President Ted Cruz?

[NuclearDem]

8. Ow, my tract.

[IDemo]

3. They don't make that clear

unless they mean Chinese leadership has ordered it.

[okaawhatever]

7. All the countries that buy their goods and sell them the natural resources they need. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. My first thought also. n/t

[Locrian]

4. what could go wrong?

[The Stranger]

5. Wow. Nothing surprises me any more.

They're going to design and manufacture a Superman within six months.

Operators are standing by, that number again is 1-800-SUPR-MAN.

[whatthehey]

6. No reason this should be constrained

They are not experimenting on sentient functioning human beings. They are duplicating blobs of cells with human DNA. I don't know the Mandarin fior "go piss up a rope" but I hope the Dean of Sun Yat-Sen University can find a similarly suitable response. There's really no difference between worrying about this and the medieval fear of witches collecting your toenail clippings to curse you. Human material =/= human being. We need to learn we are not that special.

[Blue_Tires]

13. But it is a slippery slope...

[Jamastiene]

23. Only if they drop some of it on the floor. n/t

[former9thward]

15. There is no independent thought in China.

The Dean will do as he is told. From the OP link: Huang said he had abandoned the current project to go back to working out how to minimise the unexpected mutations in adults cells and animals.

[mike_c]

16. yup, agreed....

Further, the specific modification they worked on is a cure for an invariably fatal genetic disorder.

You know, one of my family members just had a baby with a severe genetic disorder that condemns him to a short lifetime of perpetual medical care. One base substitution in one gene. A single mutation that stands between him and a normal life.

Yeah, I'd love to see in utero or even in vitro embryonic gene modification that can correct defects like that.

[liberal N proud]

18. Genetically altered food is bad, but genetically altered people is OK?

What happens to the gene pool when the GAH's mate with the non-GAH's?

Will the GAH's become super humans or outcasts? It like playing God and not knowing all the consequences.

And what happens when the genetic mixing goes horribly wrong?

[tblue37]

22. Remember the movie _Gattica_? It explores some of the risks of embryo enhancement. nt

[Liberalagogo]

9. And here we go....

Just a few decades off and not the right country, but oh well, ever since the reboot things have been a little shewed.

[valerief]

10. So do we now wage WAR on China??? I wonder what the assholes in charge will do. nt

[bulloney]

11. I wonder if this has an impact on where Hobby Lobby buys its products?

Dumb question. The only "god" these people acknowledge when it all boils down is the almighty dollar.

[Blue_Tires]

12. I figured it was only a matter of time, sadly

Surprised it even took this long...

So if China let this make the news, I'm almost afraid to think of what kinds of experimental research *isn't* making the news...

[gcomeau]

14. I can't think of a single ethical objection...

...to the specific research described here.

Not one.

(But, it might lead to *different* research that *would* be unethical is a bullshit answer. That can be said about any scientific progress in any field. "OMG, you're building computers!?!? What if Skynet!?!?!?)

[NuclearDem]

17. If anyone else has a way to rid the world of inheritable diseases

short of outright killing everyone with one, I'm all ears.

[LeftishBrit]

19. The Daily Telegraph...

has become British Christian Right central in the last few years. I don't particularly trust their spin on this.

I don't trust Chinese safety regulation either, so I do worry that they may rush into procedures without checking sufficiently for side-effects - but this is a long, long way from 'designer babies'.

[imthevicar]

21. Who the hell are we tring to fool?

They just got caught.

[gcomeau]

24. "Got caught"?

They *published their results*. They didn't get "caught".