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More than two-thirds of Americans support human gene editing as a way to protect babies against disease, according to a new poll.
These new surprising results come not long after Chinese researchers, one who was also an adviser at Rice University in the US, announced that their team in China had developed the world’s first genetically-edited babies. A pair of twins who were the first ever to have their DNA edited before birth.
The Chinese researchers used a DNA editing tool called CRISPR-cas9 to disable a gene called CCR5, which forms a protein doorway that allows HIV to enter a cell. This was done in order to prevent HIV from being transmitted from their father. Admitting this led to widespread concern about ethics and a governmental investigation within China.
A new poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 71 percent of those surveyed supported editing genes in the embryos of unborn babies to prevent the baby from inheriting a condition. Additionally, 67 percent supported reducing the risk of diseases such as cancer by way of genetic editing.
While those surveyed were in favor of genetic editing in the unborn to prevent disease and detrimental inherited conditions, the majority were against using gene editing for enhancement.
Only 12 percent of those surveyed believed it was okay to use genetic editing to alter or enhance intelligence or athletic ability. Further, only 10 percent were in favor of allowing genetic engineering for altering certain physical characteristics such as eye color or height.
The CRISPR-cas9 technology allows researchers to perform gene editing, much like any word processor, with a biological cut-and-paste mechanism that allows scientists to essentially clip out a section of DNA, that can then be deleted, replaced or repaired.
When it comes to adults, this type of editing would affect only the patient being treated. However, when gene editing is done in eggs, sperm or embryos – the edited genes could then be passed down to future generations, something that has profound implications in nature.
Scientists still feel that DNA editing should not be tested in live human pregnancies at this time, and should be deferred until more lab-based research has definitively determined that such editing is safe to try.
