Shaun Griffin: Broad societal debate should inform the use of genome editing in reproduction - The BMJ

Shaun Griffin: Broad societal debate should inform the use of genome editing in reproduction - The BMJ

Shaun Griffin: Broad societal debate should inform the use of genome editing in reproduction

July 23, 2018

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Over the last year, I’ve seen many global media stories documenting the incredible technical progress made by researchers using a method of genome editing called CRISPR-Cas9. The purpose is to change the function of a gene—usually from a variant that may cause disease to one that doesn’t. The CRISPR technique, more precise than conventional gene therapy techniques, is already starting to be used therapeutically, and under licence in research using leftover IVF embryos. It also has the potential to be used to alter the DNA of embryos before transfer to the womb, allowing parents to exclude an inherited disease in their future children. Although such “heritable genome editing” is currently illegal in many countries, were that to change, the most likely early application would be for a very few serious inherited genetic conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease.