Advance in gene editing in human embryos

[Nearly Sane]

Good news

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/science/gene-editing-human-embryos.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

[Nearly Sane]

And some more detail


https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/us-scientists-edit-human-embryos-with-crisprand-thats-okay/535668/?utm_source=twb

[floo]

In theory it seems a valuable breakthrough. However, I am concerned that further down the line designer babies could become a reality for all the wrong reasons.

[Nearly Sane]

In theory it seems a valuable breakthrough. However, I am concerned that further down the line designer babies could become a reality for all the wrong reasons.

so we should stop research that could alleviate suffering because you think at some point something bad might happen?

[floo]

so we should stop research that could alleviate suffering because you think at some point something bad might happen?

No of course not, but maybe looking into ways of eliminating a harmful gene at birth might be a preferable way of going about it.

[Nearly Sane]

No of course not, but maybe looking into ways of eliminating a harmful gene at birth might be a preferable way of going about it.

why do you think that would impact the possibility of 'designer babies'?

[floo]

why do you think that would impact the possibility of 'designer babies'?

Because if it was possible, and I am not saying it would ever be, to deal with a gene problem effectively at birth, then tinkering with embryos could be outlawed.

[Nearly Sane]

Because if it was possible, and I am not saying it would ever be, to deal with a gene problem effectively at birth, then tinkering with embryos could be outlawed.

and if you could deal with it at birth then (a) you would need to experiment on children and (b) you could then 'design' children after birth.

[floo]

and if you could deal with it at birth then (a) you would need to experiment on children and (b) you could then 'design' children after birth.

Whatever.

[Robbie]

I share your fears floo. On paper it looks great, no-one wants a child to suffer,but am concerned it will it be taken too far. Third & fourth paras from first link sums up my fears.