It’s a scenario that has haunted biologists since the dawn of the DNA age: the evil scientist custom-crafting a human being with test tubes and Petri dishes. So when a Chinese team revealed last month that it had used a new laboratory technique to alter a gene in human embryos, it set off an urgent debate over the ethics — and wisdom — of tinkering with the most basic building blocks of life.
Month: May 2015
Embryo Editing Sparks Epic Debate
In a world first, Chinese scientists have reported that they have used powerful gene-editing techniques to modify human embryos. Their paper, published in the Beijing-based journal Protein & Cell on 18 April, came as no surprise to the scientific community, but it has ignited a wide-ranging debate about what types of gene-editing research are ethical. The publication also raises questions about the appropriate way to publish such work.
Scientists Describe Mechanism that Nourishes Early Embryo in the Womb
A new study reveals how a mechanism – involving glands in the lining of the uterus – ensures the early embryo receives the nourishment it needs to grow into a healthy fetus that is big enough to receive blood from the mother.