The Case for CRISPR Babies
Some families with genetic diseases are finding hope in the controversial technology
In November 2018, a Rubicon was crossed in biomedical science. Chinese researcher He Jiankui announced he had created the first “CRISPR babies” — infants whose genomes were edited before they were born. The outcry was swift and scathing. Scientists condemned the experiments as unethical, unsafe, and perhaps worst of all, unnecessary. On Monday, it was announced that a Chinese government investigation determined He “seriously violated” state laws, and that he would likely face criminal charges.
But for some families with severe genetic disorders, the experiment offered something else: hope.
The gene-editing technology CRISPR emerged in 2013 as a sort of “cut-and-paste” tool for DNA.
One of its greatest promises is the ability to treat and potentially eliminate genetic disorders in humans. Clinical trials that use other forms of gene-editing therapy on blood or immune cells are already underway to treat patients with genetic conditions like sickle cell disease and certain types of cancer.
But editing the genome of an embryo adds a whole extra layer of complexity. Germline editing, as it’s called, is like playing with evolution. A single mistake could cause…
