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You are in Human Genetics → Reproductive Genetics

Reproductive Genetics

Developments in genetics and in other technologies mean that embryos created through IVF can be tested for an increasing range of genetic disorders. Genetic testing of embryos created naturally is also increasing. Should parents be able to choose the genetic make-up of their baby for any reason or only when a serious disease is likely? What are the implications for disabled people?

The UK allows the creation of cloned human embryos for research into disease treatments but not to clone a person. Will it be possible to prevent human cloning if research continues, does the potential for cures for diseases warrant the risk, and will we need to create a market in women's eggs to meet the demand that may be created for cloned embryos?

Should young people have their genes screened before they have children? In 2011, the Human Genetics Commission published a report advocating the introduction of pre-conception genetic screening in the UK. Read the Telegraph report and GeneWatch's response.

Resources

• Press articles
  • Biopolitical Times: WHO Asserts Leadership on Human Genome Editing (21st July 2021)

  • The Independent: Lab tests show risks of using CRISPR gene editing on embryos (30th October 2020)

  • Nature: 'CRISPR babies' are still too risky, says influential panel (3rd September 2020)

  • OneZero: Scientists Edited Human Embryos in the Lab, and It Was a Disaster (16th June 2020)

  • Center for Genetics and Society: "Disastrous" Embryo Editing Results Deliver "Restraining Order" for Heritable Genome Editing (16th June 2020)

  • The Guardian: First human-monkey chimera raises concern among scientists (3rd August 2013)

  • Physics-Astronomy.org: Japan Approves Groundbreaking Experiment Bringing Human-Animal Hybrids to Term (30th July 2019)

  • The Berkeley Daily Planet: A ban, not a moratorium, on human embryo modification (28th June 2019)

  • The Atlantic: A Mutation That Resists HIV Has Other Harmful Consequences (3rd June 2019)

    This study has been withdrawn due to errors.

  • NPR: Why Making A 'Designer Baby' Would Be Easier Said Than Done (2nd May 2019)

  • STAT: Leading scientists, backed by NIH, call for a global moratorium on creating 'CRISPR babies' (13th March 2019)

  • Nature: Adopt a moratorium on heritable genome editing (13th March 2019)

  • The Atlantic: The CRISPR Baby Scandal Gets Worse by the Day (3rd December 2018)

  • BBC: 'Gene-edited babies': China halts work of He Jiankui (29th November 2018)

  • NPR: Science Summit Denounces Gene-Edited Babies Claim, But Rejects Moratorium (29th November 2018)

  • BBC: 'Gene-edited babies': China halts work of He Jiankui (29th November 2018)

  • BBC: Chinese scientist He Jiankui defends 'world's first gene-edited babies' (28th November 2018)

  • ABC: Chinese scientist who claims to have 'edited' twins' genes slammed by peers and medical ethicists (27th November 2018)

  • MIT Review: Chinese scientists are creating CRISPR babies (25th November 2018)

  • AP: First gene-edited babies claimed in China (26th November 2018)

  • BBC: China baby gene editing claim 'dubious' (26th November 2018)

  • The Guardian: Editing embryo DNA is an exciting landmark, but in reality will benefit few (4th August 2017)

  • STAT: U.S. scientists edit genome of human embryo, but cast doubt on possibility of 'designer babies' (2nd August 2017)

  • The Guardian: Major report prepares ground for genetic modification of human embryos (14th February 2017)

  • NPR: Unexpected Risks Found In Editing Genes To Prevent Inherited Disorders (1st January 2017)

  • NPR: Breaking Taboo, Swedish Scientist Seeks To Edit DNA Of Healthy Human Embryos (22nd September 2016)

  • The Telegraph: Humans will be 'irrevocably altered' by genetic editing, warn scientists ahead of summit (30th November 2015)

  • The Guardian: GM embryos: time for ethics debate, say scientists (1st September 2015)

  • Biopolitical Times: Geron quits the stem cell industry (16th November 2011)

  • The Telegraph: Test children's genes before they have sex (2nd June 2011)

• External links
  • National Academies Press: Human Genome Editing: Science, Ethics, and Governance (February 2017)

  • Human Genetics Commission: Increasing Options, Informing Choice

    Report advocating genetic screening of young people before they have children.

• Press Releases
  • GeneWatch PR: Pre-conception gene tests can be dangerous and misleading 4th April 2011
  • GeneWatch PR: Allowing sex selection leaves door wide open for designer babies. 24th March 2005
  • GeneWatch PR: HFEA decision making process on embryo selection "a disgrace in a democratic society". 1st November 2004
  • GeneWatch PR: GeneWatch UK calls on HFEA to make decisions on cloning in the open and not behind closed doors 28th September 2004
• Briefings
  • Briefing 32: HUMAN CLONING AND STEM CELLS: unravelling the issues 1st June 2005
  • Briefing 17: Genetic Technologies: A Review of Developments in 2001 1st February 2002
  • Briefing 13: Genetic Engineering: A Review of Developments in 2000 1st January 2001
  • Briefing 9: GM Crops and Food: A Review of Developments in 1999 1st January 2000
  • Briefing 5: Genetic Engineering: A Review of Developments in 1998 5th January 1999
• Consultation Responses

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Resources

• Press articles
• External links
• Press Releases
• Briefings
• Consultation Responses