Washington opposes changes in the human genome in applications

The White House has opposed intervention in applications in the human genome. A statement distributed Assistant US President for Science and Technology, John Holdren, Tass reported .

The reaction of official Washington was caused by an experiment that Chinese scientists recently conducted. In April, they carried out an experiment on the adjustment of the genome of 82 non-viable embryos. For 28 of these, i.e. 30% of the cases, the procedure was successful. Based on the results, the Chinese scientists predict people's genetic modification has a great future, as this procedure will help in the treatment of a large number of congenital diseases at the stage of fetal development. At the same time at the genetic modification of living organisms have a huge number of critics and opponents. Many scientists and public figures argue against even modification of plants and experiments on embryos and did caused an extremely negative reaction in some quarters.

One of the Chinese experts, a biologist Zhao Shimin, said that "The use of human DNA modification technology in the future is inevitable. They have already tested on plants and animals, the next step - the people. " However, he acknowledged that the modification of the genome is associated with a number of difficulties and risks, and can be accompanied by "unpredictable consequences».

Against the background of the news, the National Academy of Sciences of the United States announced that it will convene an international conference with the participation of "doctors, ethicists and other experts" to discuss the admissibility of the intervention conducted by Chinese scientists, the genome of the embryo "for research and clinical applications." The Academy also enlisted the support of the White House, which, according to John Holdren "welcomes and fully supports" the initiative.

"Our administration believes that a change in the human germline for clinical purposes - a feature that is not to be cross," - said US Assistant to the President.

While we are talking only about the modification of the human genome for medical purposes, however, the technology has a powerful military potential. It adds piquancy to the situation that such experiments in public spending became the first Chinese scholars is not limited to the scope of public opinion and, in fact, not subject to external pressure from international organizations.

Discussion at the conference convened by the NAS will be subject to the ethical side of the issue and the consequences for the human population in the long term. "The full implications of such a move is impossible to predict until the number of generations will not inherit the genetic changes produced. The choice made in one country can affect us all, "- said Holdren. Thus emphasizes the position of adviser to the White House, which believes that individual states have no right to unilaterally make decisions that can affect the whole of humanity over time.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/251108/