Vatican newspaper denounces UK approval of ‘gene-editing’ of human embryos

February 03, 2016

The United Kingdom’s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority has approved a request by scientists to genetically modify and then destroy human embryos conceived through in vitro fertilization.

The Francis Crick Institute, where the study is taking place, said in a statement that “the knowledge acquired from the research will be important for understanding how a healthy human embryo develops. This knowledge may improve embryo development after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and might provide better clinical treatments for infertility, using conventional medical methods.”

In a front-page L’Osservatore Romano article, Italian bioethicist Laura Palazzani denounced the decision and noted that there has been criticism from the scientific community of similar experiments in China.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• HFEA approval for new “gene editing” techniques (Francis Crick Institute)
• UK scientists given go-ahead to genetically modify human embryos (CNN)
• Un esperimento rischioso (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 1)
• Research regulator sanctions abuse of embryos, says SPUC, as gene-editing gets go ahead (SPUC)
• Critics Lash Out At Chinese Scientists Who Edited DNA In Human Embryos (NPR)
• UK researchers given green light for genetic modification of human embryos (CWN, 2/1)