Are Designer Babies the Future?

Earlier this week a researcher in China’s Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, claimed that he has created the world’s first gene-edited designer babies. This has gained international attention because of the ongoing debate of the ethics and safety relating to the genetic alteration of humans.

Medical documents were released earlier this month that showed Jiankui He, the lead researcher on the project, had been recruiting couples to create the world’s first gene-edited babies, which would have increased protection against HIV.

Through the use of CRISPR/Cas9, He sought to eliminate the CCR5 gene in the embryos, which is thought to be linked to cholera, HIV, and smallpox. The team working on the project chose the CCR5 gene because it is thought to be linked to a protein channel that allows HIV to enter a cell. The embryos were modified, then implanted in the mother’s uterus, and were monitored and genetic testing proceeded as late as six months into the pregnancy.

Although many of the details are currently unclear, He released a video on his lab’s YouTube channel, showing that two babies, Lulu and Nana, were born healthy a few weeks ago. If this information is true, these two babies would be the first genetically-altered babies to be born.

But, although the video may mention that the process was safe, some studies say otherwise. A paper published in July 2018 showed that the “CRISPR/Cas9 technique frequently caused extensive gene mutations,” leading many scientist and researcher to be wary of the side effects of this genetic alternation project.

Mukund Thattai, a cell biologist from India’s National Center For Biological Sciences, who was not involved in the research, took to Twitter to express his views on the story. He wrote: “Each gene in our genome has an “environment” determined by all the other genes. Genes “interact” in complex ways, only a few of which we understand. So changing ONE gene could modify the environment of some other gene.”

So, what does this mean for the future? As of now, He’s claims have not been confirmed. Many companies, including the US, have banned experimental gene-editing in human trials. China does not currently have these policies, making the procedures legal and a potential source of medical tourism. You may want to follow news stories on gene-editing more closely as the future of humanity truly seems to rest on it.