A group of stem cell scientists, bioethicists and policy experts has called on the international community to permit the conduction of research regarding the genetic modification of human embryos in order to gain better understanding on its biology during early development.
Members of the multinational Hinxton Group issued the call on Wednesday following a conference in Manchester in the United Kingdom.
While the concept of human genetic modification remains a highly controversial subject, the Hinxton Group believes that studies on gene editing of early stage embryos would provide researchers with valuable information that could be used for practical applications.
The group, however, clarified that it does not currently support the use of genetically altered human babies for reproduction.
In its statement, the Hinxton Group said that there could be morally acceptable applications for the technology in terms of human reproduction, especially when all safety, governance and efficacy requirements are met. The group said the idea still needs to be discussed and debated on before it could be carried out.
The research organization said that the study on genetic modification of human embryos will provide significant value to basic research, adding that the scientific field will continue its rapid progress. There will also be pressure to make scientific decisions and for other purposes such as funding, governance and publishing.
Despite its prospective contributions to the scientific community, some medical research groups disagree with permitting studies on gene-editing of human embryos. One such group opposed to the idea is the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), which refuses to fund any research concerning this field of science.
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the NIH, said that the idea of modifying the germline in human embryos for clinical studies has been the subject of debate throughout the years and has been viewed from various perspectives. He said that the research is universally viewed as a line that scientists should not cross.
Collins noted a study conducted in China in which researchers experimented on non-viable human embryos in order to alter a gene that is believed to cause a life-threatening blood disorder.
Debra Mathews, a researcher at the Berman Institute of Bioethics of Johns Hopkins and a member of the Hinxton Group, explained that despite the moral disagreement regarding the subject, it is important to not stop all debate, discussion and research.
Mathews said that it should be weighed depending on the risks and potential benefits of human genome modification for human health and research.
Photo: Lunar Caustic | Flickr
