Genetic engineering

Comment: taboo of the Gene

In the UK, was the first genetic manipulation of the human Embryo to be approved. Time for the overdue debate: do we Want human genetic material of the engineers left? Matthias von Hein commented.

It is a taboo. He is calculated. It comes as no surprise. It is not the first Time that the science of society before it drives. Unfortunately is the engine of scientific development is not solely pure, idealistic Erkenntnisdrang. As little as researchers exclusively by the common good, inspired. More effective powers are well ambition, competitiveness, and business interests. The motto is: What is feasible, will be made – before someone else does.

Is a discussion still possible?

Since it seems almost impossible, socially about the Benefits and risks of new technologies to discuss, a sober assessment of the consequences and – in the best of all worlds – internationally binding Standards. Especially, when all at once a new tool in the Toolbox appears. Now in UK approved Manipulation of human Embryos comes the recently developed Crispr/Cas9 procedure to use.

DW editor Matthias von Hein

The discovery of this Genschere three years ago, in biology, a tremor is triggered, its foothills now reaches the Public: The genetic material of living cells of all kinds can be changed as you like – fast, high-precision and cheap! This makes the new method also for small laboratories with small Budget is interesting for large laboratories in countries with lower Standards anyway. Last April was the message, a sensation, a südchinesisches team of researchers have for the first time, intervention on non-viable human embryos. And since the end of September, sold in the Chinese capital, the Beijing Genome Institute with the Genschere modified pigs: The cute-looking animals are only a third as large as their natural Relatives. The color scheme can be the customer decision-making. Conclusion: The biology developed on the basis of gene surgery of a life science to an engineering science.

The big question is: On which fields we want to this new engineering science to apply? Also to ourselves, to the people? Even before this question is answered, the British decision is a dam torn down. The United Kingdom is already in the past in such matters vorgeprescht: twenty years Ago, was the Klonschaf Dolly in a Scottish laboratory to create.

What are the next steps?

Sure, the Stammzellforscherin Kathy Niakan at the Francis Crick Institute in London is not planning Designerbabys. You want to conduct basic research. On basic research follows in the rule, but the application research. And the applause in Parts of the science makes a wave of new research expected: a major “first step” is because the speech. Since you have to ask yourself: What will be next? A colleague Niakans from the Crick Institute, expected the approval will also be other scientists encourage Genarbeiten of the human Embryo to apply for.

In Germany had a leading researcher in the summer of last year, clearly against experiments on human germline expressed. They called for a Moratorium on gene surgery on human embryos. An “engineering summit” in Washington organized by the academies of Sciences and Humanities of the USA, England and China came at the end of last year, but with a different result: they were kept There for the basic research in the Petri dish is acceptable. Now it is high time that the Public speaks up. Before science for more facts creates the genetically enhanced people.

You can below this article, leave a comment. We look forward to your speech!