A Chinese scientist recently made waves in international media for his claims of successful editing human genome. He Jiankui of the Southern University of Science and Technology, in Shenzhen claimed that that he edited the genomes of twin girls when they were embryos, as part of IVF treatment. He said the twins’ DNA was modified using CRISPR, a technique which allows scientists to remove and replace a strand with pinpoint precision. Although the veracity of these claims cannot be verified independently because his employer and Chinese government deny that any such research was conducted officially, his claims were unanimously condemned by scientific community all over the world. Experts warned that editing human embryos can create unintended mutations in other areas — so-called “off-target effects” — which can have an impact through the lifetime.
This situation has long been predicted and worried upon by not only science fiction writers but genetic experts and several prominent ethicists. Humanity has made unbelievable forward leaps in understanding the structure of human genome which contains billions of combinations of four letters and is responsible for every biological, physical and psychological trait in human body and then is passed on to future generations. The ability to edit genes holds immense potentials such as protection from genetic disease and susceptibility to several life crippling disabilities. But the scientific community is more worried about unethical uses of gene editing technology like enhanced physical or mental endurance or changes in appearance of next generation. Pakistan has witnessed a mushroom growth of IVF clinics with loose or no regulatory mechanism to maintain an official oversight on their practices. This is an area of research that needs strict government regulation at both national and international level if we are to avoid the Gattaca type world of designer babies and genetic discrimination.
