CHINA
Current Research and Findings
Genetically Modified Human Embryos
Ever since 2015, a team of scientists in China has been experimenting with the technique of editing genes on human embryos. This led to China being the very first country that successfully modify a human embryo. The scientists intentionally gave the embryos rare genetic disorders, and then attempted to cure the disorders with the CRISPR method. After many failed attempts, they finally were able to remove the genetic disease in the embryo. C1
Genetic Editing in Live Human
On October 28, 2016, a patient at the West China Hospital in Chengdu, received an injection of genetically modified white blood cells to help cure his lung cancer. A team of scientists extracted immune cells from the patient and proceeded to knockout a gene that normally acts as a check on the cell's ability to launch an immune response. The new edited cells were then multiplied and reentered into the patient's bloodstream in hope that they will attack the cancer and wipe it out. C2
Public Concerns
With the gene editing research of finding cures for rare genetic disease in embryos, many people all over the world do not agree with China’s researching ways. At first during the research, they limited themselves to using non-viable embryos, which was ethically acceptable, but when their studies kept failing, they started to use viable embryos which was more ethically dubious. C3
