Genetically Modified Sperm Is Possible In Humans

[CShine]

Laboratory experiments suggest it may be possible one day to genetically alter human sperm cells to permanently eradicate genetic diseases. Japanese and US researchers managed to insert foreign DNA into zebrafish sperm cells - then successfully mature them into working sperm. Previous attempts have led to offspring with a mixed genetic identity.

However, attempts to tinker with the human "germline" are considered fraught with danger by most scientists. This is because of the danger of inadvertantly introducing genetic problems which then persist from generation to generation.

The UK's fertility watchdog says no-one has tried to do it here - there is likely to be strong opposition to any attempt. So far, gene therapy is restricted to treatments which try to insert new genes into adult human cells, rather than ones which attempt to correct the problem permanently by inserting them into germ cells.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3431811.stm

[Jim Sagle]

1. The first thing we do is kill all the bio-engineers.

And no, I'm not kidding - not even a little bit.

[oostevo]

3. As a future BME ...

Nooo! I'm too young to die!

[daleo]

2. I just finished reading Mary Shelly's Frankenstein

It is nothing like the movies, a great book. It just confirms one's hunch, that things like this are a very bad idea. It is like feeding cows to cows. There are things your gut tells you are a mistake, and you should listen to your gut. However, if the BFEE gene could be removed from the human germline...