Genetic science will face greater control
by Jennifer Doudna
In 2019, we can expect accelerating scientific research and practical advances using CRISPR-Cas9—a tool that allows scientists to easily change an organism’s DNA—towards cures for genetic diseases, enhanced drug development, reprogrammed immune cells to fight cancer, improved transplant organs and even more nutritious crops.
But the scientific community will also redouble efforts to define high ethical, scientific and safety standards for anyone using the technology. This recently became even more critical.
Nearly all of the current efforts to use CRISPR-Cas9 in humans involve somatic cell editing: changes to DNA that affect just an individual and are not heritable. But a major issue has been if, how and when to use CRISPR for germline editing: changes to DNA in embryos, sperm or eggs that are then passed down to other generations. In the U.S., the 1995 Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibits human germline editing, and the National Institutes of Health are forbidden from funding any such research. The practice is also explicitly banned in many, but not all, countries.
