Chinese researchers carried out research in editing the genome of the human embryo but they were unable to reach conclusive results. Researchers were facing ethical challenges doing the study.
Being an extremely dangerous and unknown area of research, the ethical implications of splicing up the human DNA for the purpose of studies should not be overlooked, according to Wired.
Since the process of gene editing started, scientists are actively involved in editing genes and splitting up the DNA of human beings. This research was published in the journal "Protein and Cell" one week ago, explaining the method by which the researchers carried out the whole experiment.
The experiment utilized a new DNA editing method called as CRISPR/Cas9. It would replace those genes, which are the potential cause of a deadly blood disease, according to Omni Feed. The main aim of the experiment was to replace all such potentially hazardous genes with healthy genes.
Unfortunately, the trial was not successful and the researchers could not reach conclusion. The main reason behind the failure was that only 86 cells survived the experiment, amongst the thousands of cells which were injected in the embryo. Subsequently, the entire trial was called off.
The technique which was used in this trial was first introduced in 2012 and was the subject of much excitement among the researchers. The inventors of this technique were even nominated for a Nobel Prize.
Even though this is not the first gene editing technique, it is much easier to carry out in comparison to the other methods. This might be the next big thing for personalized medical therapies and human genetic modification.