Chinese scientists used discarded
human embryos from a fertility clinic to try to modify them
genetically, sources said Thursday.
They used a newly discovered technique allowing them to use
an enzyme to "edit" the gene sequence and correct genes one by
one.
Of the 86 embryos used, 71 survived the procedure, which
worked in a small percentage.
"If we want to use this technique on embryos the percentage
of success must be close to 100%," the researchers wrote in
their findings.
"We stopped because we think it's still too soon".
The ethical repercussions of the experiment has sparked a
letter by scientists to the journal Nature demanding an end to
this type of experiment.
Nature and Science journals both refused to publish an
article with the Chinese scientists' findings.
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