First baby born free of inherited disease

[Still Waters]

The first baby has been born in Europe from a new IVF procedure that checks embryos for devastating genetic disorders.

Lucas Meagu was at high risk of inheriting a rare form of muscular dystrophy which would have left him with weak muscles making walking and everyday tasks difficult.

However, a ground-breaking technique which is being pioneered by fertility doctors in London has allowed Lucas to be born fit, healthy and free of disease.

http://www.telegraph...ed-disease.html

[DefenceMinisterMishkin]

Good stuff..

[.ZZ.]

Interesting.

They have been talking about genetic engineering "super humans" for some time now.

Is this the start of it?

Food for thought.

[Paranormalcy]

Awesome!

[Lucas Cooper Merrin]

On this perticular occasion its wonderful that genetics have allowed a child a fair start in life, but the question arises of ethical boundaries and moral decisions,

there will come a day (very soon) where all embryos will be screened and tested...and the necessary genetic alterations will be made so that the unborn child will have immunity to cancers/heart disease,mental illness etc..etc, infact im quite sure it will become common practice to preprogram many variables of an individual, almost like pre-ordering accessories for a new car....although this is a wonderful display of how far science and technology has progressed, it will also signify the diminishment of what it is to be human!

Would we have Vincent Van Gogh, Ludwig van Beethoven, John Nash, Hellen Keller, or even Stephen Hawking if they had all been made genetically perfect???

They may have all still been great people in their feilds but it was their disabilities that made them stand out from the crowd! It was thier downfalls that catipulted there genius!

Its often the case that its our weaknesses in one department that give strength to another!

I'm totaly against the genetic alterations of human beings! Nature has managed this long without us altering ourselves! This is a science of destruction! Not salvation!

[KariW]

Father Merrin makes some really great points about where this science may be headed. But my understanding from the article (and I could be wrong), is that they are not actually doing any manipulation of the genetic code in this case, but are testing several embryo's for CMT disease via Pre Implantation Diagnostic techniques and then selected a disease-free embryo for implantation in the uterus.

[XenoFish]

there will come a day (very soon) where all embryos will be screened and tested...and the necessary genetic alterations will be made so that the unborn child will have immunity to cancers/heart disease,mental illness etc..etc, in fact I'm quite sure it will become common practice to pre-program many variables of an individual, almost like pre-ordering accessories for a new car....although this is a wonderful display of how far science and technology has progressed, it will also signify the diminishment of what it is to be human!

Maybe that's what humanity needs a 2.0 version.

[Indiogene]

Bioethics comes to mind on the prevention of genetically inherited diseases and disorders, and lately the biggest issue facing children is the risk of autism. It's widely believed autism is genetic and if you remove the genes linked to autism, the child would not have autism. Neurodiversity activists oppose elimination of genes linked to autism and persons with autism themselves from the gene pool, because it smacks of intolerance and eugenics against persons with autistic intellectual gifts or talents.

[Leonardo]

Father Merrin makes some really great points about where this science may be headed. But my understanding from the article (and I could be wrong), is that they are not actually doing any manipulation of the genetic code in this case, but are testing several embryo's for CMT disease via Pre Implantation Diagnostic techniques and then selected a disease-free embryo for implantation in the uterus.

+1 internets.

Even if this was a case of genetic engineering, there is a huge difference in ethics between cosmetic GE and GE for treatment of medical [inheritable] conditions.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Leonardo

[Zalmoxis]

Altering the genetic sequence to blot out genetic disorders? I totally approve. I wonder if this same technique can be used on the MC1R gene, the one that causes freckles.

[Lucas Cooper Merrin]

Altering the genetic sequence to blot out genetic disorders? I totally approve. I wonder if this same technique can be used on the MC1R gene, the one that causes freckles.

Do you see "freckles" as a genetic disorder?

[XenoFish]

Do you see "freckles" as a genetic disorder?

That would be a cosmetic modification. Which in my opinion would be a waste of time and resources. It should be used for things such as parkinson's, diabetes, and muscular dystrophy.

[Uncle Sam]

On this perticular occasion its wonderful that genetics have allowed a child a fair start in life, but the question arises of ethical boundaries and moral decisions,

there will come a day (very soon) where all embryos will be screened and tested...and the necessary genetic alterations will be made so that the unborn child will have immunity to cancers/heart disease,mental illness etc..etc, infact im quite sure it will become common practice to preprogram many variables of an individual, almost like pre-ordering accessories for a new car....although this is a wonderful display of how far science and technology has progressed, it will also signify the diminishment of what it is to be human!

Would we have Vincent Van Gogh, Ludwig van Beethoven, John Nash, Hellen Keller, or even Stephen Hawking if they had all been made genetically perfect???

They may have all still been great people in their feilds but it was their disabilities that made them stand out from the crowd! It was thier downfalls that catipulted there genius!

Its often the case that its our weaknesses in one department that give strength to another!

I'm totaly against the genetic alterations of human beings! Nature has managed this long without us altering ourselves! This is a science of destruction! Not salvation!

Weakness and failure breeds greatness. No one gets better at things unless they fail or stumble, a perfect person never learns anything new. They have to account for their disability to get ahead in life.

[Foil Hat Ninja]

Tell that to a baby with Tay-Sachs.

[Whisperer]

I see it as nothing more than a sophisticated approach to a science mankind has been practicing for ever, breeding.

Its also a good way to clean up the mess past breeding's have created and a sure fire method to reducing the enormous costs of medical remedial approaches currently utilized and effected for current genetically inherited conditions...

It would be interesting to see how contemporary manufacturers of pills and potions gear up to block this type of remediation as it would mean a huge reduction to their profit lines...

[+DieChecker]

Father Merrin makes some really great points about where this science may be headed. But my understanding from the article (and I could be wrong), is that they are not actually doing any manipulation of the genetic code in this case, but are testing several embryo's for CMT disease via Pre Implantation Diagnostic techniques and then selected a disease-free embryo for implantation in the uterus.

I have to agree. If we can take a multitude of embryos and find one that is disease free, we can also screen them for the "gay gene", red hair, athletic potential, intellegence potential, as well as other diseases. Already in many third world nations abortions are done when it is found out that a baby is a girl, or handycapped, or even just dark skinned (India...). If a person could screen for an high potential intelligent, high potential strong, light skinned, disease free baby, they're going to do so.

Preventing disease is great, but once the genie has been let out of the bottle, some people are going to start making some selfish wishes.

Do you see "freckles" as a genetic disorder?

I'm sure it is to some people.

[Uncle Sam]

I have to agree. If we can take a multitude of embryos and find one that is disease free, we can also screen them for the "gay gene", red hair, athletic potential, intellegence potential, as well as other diseases. Already in many third world nations abortions are done when it is found out that a baby is a girl, or handycapped, or even just dark skinned (India...). If a person could screen for an high potential intelligent, high potential strong, light skinned, disease free baby, they're going to do so.

Preventing disease is great, but once the genie has been let out of the bottle, some people are going to start making some selfish wishes.

I'm sure it is to some people.

The problem with this... everyone has a different definition of perfect.

[jmccr8]

Can that child still be a carrier?

jmccr8

[+DieChecker]

Can that child still be a carrier?

jmccr8

Good question. Is the disease still recessive? I think it would have to be unless they actually did some kind of genetic hack job on the fertilized egg.

Edited March 30, 2015 by DieChecker

[seaturtlehorsesnake]

Weakness and failure breeds greatness. No one gets better at things unless they fail or stumble, a perfect person never learns anything new. They have to account for their disability to get ahead in life.

there are any number of inheritable diseases that do not breed greatness, because they kill people within years or even hours of birth.

and speaking of a disability as a blessing can also be insulting to someone suffering, especially if the person describing it as such is able bodied and minded.

[Lucas Cooper Merrin]

there are any number of inheritable diseases that do not breed greatness, because they kill people within years or even hours of birth.

and speaking of a disability as a blessing can also be insulting to someone suffering, especially if the person describing it as such is able bodied and minded.

I agree there is some terrible genetic defects that are a death sentence and cause limited quality of life,

its a hugely controversial topic, having the ability to play with nature for the good of a few....but where is the line drawn? ....as it will lead to playing with nature for the cosmetic gain of the masses!

I understand that humans have been playing with gentetics for hundreds of years in one way or an other! And this is most noticeable in the dog world.....of which its been a HUGE disaster, pure breeds are now so inbred and genetically alterd that they carry physical, mental and health problems that should be defined as animal cruelty! by breeding out certain genetically poor lines they have created even worse lines!..i believe we will end up in a similar situation with ourselves

nature works a fine balance! And has done for billions of years! Humans are constantly outweighing this in every conceivable area! But this is one neiche that we should leave alone!

Edited March 30, 2015 by Father Merrin

[Delovely5150]

Our genetic coding should be left alone!

And that it should.

[seaturtlehorsesnake]

I agree there is some terrible genetic defects that are a death sentence and cause limited quality of life,

its a hugely controversial topic, having the ability to play with nature for the good of a few....but where is the line drawn? ....as it will lead to playing with nature for the cosmetic gain of the masses!

I understand that humans have been playing with gentetics for hundreds of years in one way or an other! And this is most noticeable in the dog world.....of which its been a HUGE disaster, pure breeds are now so inbred and genetically alterd that they carry physical, mental and health problems that should be defined as animal cruelty! by breeding out certain genetically poor lines they have created even worse lines!..i believe we will end up in a similar situation with ourselves

this makes literally no sense. dogs were bred for certain traits that breeders wanted to amplify. the physical, mental and health problems came about because their methods involved inbreeding. there is not even the beginning of a similarity between dog breeding and screening and treating genetic defects. your argument is absurd.

[Lucas Cooper Merrin]

this makes literally no sense. dogs were bred for certain traits that breeders wanted to amplify. the physical, mental and health problems came about because their methods involved inbreeding. there is not even the beginning of a similarity between dog breeding and screening and treating genetic defects. your argument is absurd.

The principals are the same

[Aftermath]

Father Merrin makes some really great points about where this science may be headed. But my understanding from the article (and I could be wrong), is that they are not actually doing any manipulation of the genetic code in this case, but are testing several embryo's for CMT disease via Pre Implantation Diagnostic techniques and then selected a disease-free embryo for implantation in the uterus.

I understand the difference, however this is the impetus to push that envelope or discuss moving a line of demarcation. While I am overjoyed that this baby, as well as others to follow, will have a wonderful life, I can’t believe I may, my children certainly will, experience a true Gattica.