A recent study by Chinese scientists involving the attempt to modify the genes of human embryos has sparked some controversy and some concern by other scientists in the field. The process they used was a genetic engineering technique called CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) to remove a faulty gene and replace it with a healthy one in human embryos. The original plan and hope for such a process may hold extraordinary promise for both basic research and clinical applications. However, DNA repair mechanisms have not been studied enough and are not fully understood, thus it is difficult for researchers to predict how the genome will be affected and what mutations could occur. Looking at the bigger picture beyond the potential power of treating diseases, the unpredictable effects on future generations places this process in jeopardy of being defined as unethical and dangerous. Read More
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image above from www.livescience.com