|
Briefing
|
- Gene-Edited Embryos – Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) researchers and collaborators demonstrated CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) gene editing technology can efficiently and safely edit out genes causing disease in tens of human embryos
- First in U.S. – First of its kind in U.S., while China already had three published studies of CRISPR genetically modified embryos
- Improved upon Chinese – Injected CRISPR into eggs at same time they were fertilized with sperm, overcoming initial obstacles, such as those found in Chinese studies where editing errors were identified and found that not all cells took up desired DNA changes
- Potential Applications – Can lead to creating first genetically modified humans, “designer babies” trend where babies are born with customized genes based on desired characteristics, and could affect human evolution as genetically modified babies pass on their genes to descendants
- Regulatory Barriers – National Institutes of Health bans funding for experiments using gene editing technologies on human embryos, and Congress prohibits U.S. Food and Drug Administration from allowing clinical trials on genome-edited embryos
|
|
Accelerator
|
|
|
Sector
|
Healthcare/Health Sciences
|
|
Organization
|
Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)
|
|
Source
|
-
Connor, S., "First human embryos edited in U.S.",
-
Begley, S., "Using CRISPR, scientists efficiently edit genome of viable human embryos",
-
Hayes, E., "OHSU researcher successfully creates genetically modified human embryos",
-
AcceleratingBiz analysis
|
|
Original Publication Date
|
July 26, 2017
|
