Scientists seek permission to genetically modify embryos
Researchers at The Francis Crick Institute in London want to use a controversial genetic technique to carry out research into infertility. The embryos would be destroyed after the research and not implanted into the womb. The government’s fertility watchdog said it had received the application, which would be looked at in due course.
“In the UK, experts recently called for debate on whether editing human embryos would ever be justified in the clinic.
Weeks later a group of influential scientists belonging to the Hinxton Group said it did not approve of GM babies being born yet, but the idea might one day become morally acceptable.
Dr Sarah Chan of the University of Edinburgh said the news that UK scientists had applied to the HFEA for a licence to perform genome editing research using embryos should be cause for confidence, not concern.”