Unlawful Actions Supposedly Carried Out by the Government Unveiled: Exclusive Report from May 13, 2025
In the ever-evolving world of genetic research, one technology has taken centre stage - CRISPR. This powerful gene-editing tool, derived from bacteria's natural defence mechanism against viruses, holds the potential to revolutionise the treatment of genetic diseases like Huntington's, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia.
However, ethical concerns and safety issues have arisen in discussions about human gene editing. The debate centres around designer babies and the potential for inequality, with many advocating for caution, especially when it comes to heritable human genome editing (HHGE). Three major scientific societies have recently called for a continued global 10-year moratorium on HHGE, emphasising the need to avoid premature clinical application and risks of inheritable genetic changes until safety, ethical, and societal implications are better understood.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established an expert advisory committee to recommend governance frameworks. Their guidance includes mandatory ethics review and transparency in clinical trials, setting international registries, and fostering research oversight to ensure ethical boundaries and social implications are managed carefully.
Internationally, regulations on human gene editing vary. Most countries and leading scientific bodies endorse strict oversight and moratoria, especially on HHGE. The focus remains on safeguarding human rights, preventing unethical applications, and ensuring benefits outweigh risks.
In the United States, CRISPR research is allowed, but editing embryos for implantation is banned. In contrast, the UK allows research on embryos under strict conditions. These regulations promote clarity between permissible somatic editing and restricted germline alteration, including guidance on research with viable and non-viable embryos.
Despite the ethical and regulatory challenges, progress in somatic cell gene editing is rapid. FDA-approved therapies for conditions like sickle cell disease are already in use, and expanding clinical trials in North America, Europe, and the Middle East are underway. Companies like Editas Medicine and CRISPR Therapeutics are at the forefront of these developments, running human trials.
However, challenges persist. Off-target effects, immune responses, and long-term effects are still concerns in gene editing with CRISPR. Researchers are exploring editing RNA, not just DNA, for safer outcomes. Editing genes in adults safely and consistently without side effects is not yet possible.
In 2020, a patient with sickle cell anemia was successfully treated using gene editing with CRISPR, marking a significant milestone in the field. As we continue to navigate the ethical and technical challenges, the promise of a future where genetic diseases are a thing of the past remains tantalisingly within reach.
[1] International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) [2] National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) [3] World Health Organization (WHO) [4] European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE)
- The ongoing debate about human gene editing, particularly heritable human genome editing (HHGE), involves discussions centered around innovation in science and its potential impact on medical-conditions like Huntington's, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia, to ensure advancements in health-and-wellness are achieved ethically and safely.
- As CRISPR technology continues to revolutionize the treatment of medical-conditions, international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), and European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) are actively advocating for ethical guidelines, rigorous research, and global cooperation to manage the risks and societal implications of this groundbreaking technology in the realm of health-and-wellness and science.
