Rumors about Chinese scientists that successfully edited the genomes of human embryos have been confirmed, sparking a high-profile debate regarding ethical implications of this work.

Junjiu Huang along with other gene-function researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou have tried to deflect concerns by using "non-viable embryos" that can't result in a live birth. The embryos were obtained from local fertility clinics.

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The team tried to change the gene responsible for beta-thalassaemia, a potentially fatal blood disorder, using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR/Cas9. Researchers said the results show serious challenges in using the method in medical applications.

"I believe this is the first report of CRISPR/Cas9 applied to human pre-implantation embryos and as such the study is a landmark, as well as a cautionary tale. Their study should be a stern warning to any practitioner who thinks the technology is ready for testing to eradicate disease genes," said George Daley, stem-cell biologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

On the other hand, there are some who believe the technique can have potential as it can help lessen devastating genetic diseases even before the baby is born. There are some that say genetic editing of this kind does cross an ethical line.

In March, researchers expressed their concern and warned that genetic changes to embryos, known as germline modification, are known to be heritable and may be lead into an unpredictable effect in the future. They added that gene-editing human embryos can be a slippery path to an unsafe and unethical use of the technique.

The findings were published in the online journal Protein & Cell.

TagsChinese Scientists Modifying Human Embryos Create Ethical Issues, Ethical issues, human embryos, Human genome, editing human embryos, genetic changes, gene-editing technique, CRISPR/Cas9