What is germline gene therapy?

Germline gene therapy is when DNA is transferred into the cells that produce reproductive cells, eggs or sperm, in the body. This type of therapy allows for the correction of disease-causing gene variants that are certain to be passed down from generation to generation.

Why is germ cell gene therapy banned all over the world?

Gene Therapy Ethics and Regulation In most countries, germline gene therapy, because of its potential effect on future generations, is appropriately outlawed.

Is germline gene therapy safe?

Current research is evaluating the safety of gene therapy; future studies will test whether it is an effective treatment option. Several studies have already shown that this approach can have very serious health risks, such as toxicity, inflammation, and cancer.

Is germline editing ethical?

ASGCT’s position on germline gene editing practices is in line with the universal international consensus in the scientific community that it is neither safe nor effective at this time to use gene editing technologies on germline cells to attempt to prevent disease in a yet-unborn person, and that there are currently …

What are the ethical issues of CRISPR?

With the rapid application of CRISPR/Cas in clinical research, it is important to consider the ethical implications of such advances. Pertinent issues include accessibility and cost, the need for controlled clinical trials with adequate review, and policies for compassionate use.

Is germline gene therapy legal in India?

Germline gene editing is banned, but specific regulation is lacking. India’s current regulatory architecture for approving novel treatments is ambiguous and assigns overlapping functions to different governmental bodies.

What are the ethical issues surrounding gene therapy?

Ethical questions surrounding gene therapy include: (1) How to distinguish between “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy? (2) Who does decide which traits are normal and which are disabilities or handicaps? (3) Would the high cost of gene therapy make it available only to the rich? (4) Will the widespread use of gene …