美國首次對人類胚胎進(jìn)行基因編輯，或能消除家族遺傳病

美國在2017年初對基因編輯技術(shù)謹(jǐn)慎放開后，國內(nèi)科學(xué)家就開始在該領(lǐng)域內(nèi)邁出大步伐。據(jù)美國有線電視新聞網(wǎng)(CNN)報(bào)道，俄勒岡衛(wèi)生科學(xué)大學(xué)的科學(xué)家舒赫拉特•米塔利波夫(Shoukhrat Mitalipov)團(tuán)隊(duì)使用基因編輯技術(shù)進(jìn)行了美國首例轉(zhuǎn)基因人類胚胎實(shí)驗(yàn)。由于牽扯道德倫理問題，人類胚胎研究屢屢處于爭議之中。迄今，只有中美兩國實(shí)施過人類胚胎基因編輯。

The MIT Technology Review published on Wednesday a news report about the first-known experiment to create genetically modified human embryos in the United States using a gene-editing tool called CRISPR.

《麻省理工技術(shù)評論》雜志16日報(bào)道，美國使用基因編輯工具CRISPR進(jìn)行了本國首例轉(zhuǎn)基因人類胚胎實(shí)驗(yàn)。

Shoukhrat Mitalipov, director of the Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, reportedly led the new research. Mitalipov and the university would not confirm details of the research to CNN.

據(jù)報(bào)道，俄勒岡衛(wèi)生科學(xué)大學(xué)胚胎干細(xì)胞與基因治療中心主任舒赫拉特•米塔利波夫是這項(xiàng)新研究的領(lǐng)頭人。舒赫拉特及校方不愿向CNN透露研究的細(xì)節(jié)。

"Results of the peer-reviewed study are expected to be published soon in a scientific journal. No further information will be provided before then," according to an emailed statement from the university's press office. Another researcher cited in the MIT report, the Salk Institute's Jun Wu, did not reply to CNN's request for comment.

該大學(xué)新聞辦公室的郵件聲明稱：“同行評審的結(jié)果將在近日發(fā)表在一家科學(xué)雜志上。在此之前無法透露更多信息。”《麻省理工技術(shù)評論》中提到的另一位研究員，索爾克研究所的吳軍(音譯)也沒有回復(fù)CNN的置評請求。

Previously, Mitalipov and his colleagues reported the first success in cloning human stem cells in 2013, successfully reprogramming human skin cells back to their embryonic state. In 2007, a research team led by Mitalipov announced they created the first cloned monkey embryo and extracted stem cells from it.

據(jù)報(bào)道，舒赫拉特及其同事在2013年首次成功克隆人類干細(xì)胞，重新編碼人類皮膚細(xì)胞，使其恢復(fù)到胚胎狀態(tài)。2007年，舒赫拉特領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的研究小組宣布他們創(chuàng)造了首個(gè)克隆猴胚胎并從中提取了干細(xì)胞。

The MIT Technology Review reported that the researchers in Portland, Oregon, edited the DNA of a large number of one-cell embryos, specifically targeting genes associated with inherited diseases in those embryos. The MIT Technology Review could not determine which disease genes had been chosen for editing in the new research.

《麻省理工技術(shù)評論》報(bào)道稱，俄勒岡州波特蘭市的研究人員專門以遺傳疾病相關(guān)基因?yàn)榘谢颍瑢Υ罅繂渭?xì)胞胚胎進(jìn)行DNA編輯。該雜志不能確定這項(xiàng)新的研究選擇哪些致病基因進(jìn)行編輯。

Previously, scientists in China were the first in the world to reveal attempts to modify genes in human embryos using CRISPR. Three separate papers were published in scientific journals describing various studies in China on gene editing in human embryos.

此前，中國科學(xué)家在全球首次公開了使用基因編輯技術(shù)修改人類胚胎基因的嘗試，在科學(xué)雜志上發(fā)表了三篇不同的論文，介紹中國在人類胚胎基因編輯方面的各項(xiàng)研究。

Yet the research has already generated attention and controversy.

但是，美國的研究仍然引發(fā)了關(guān)注與爭議。

"This is pushing the research faster than I thought we would see," said Dana Carroll, professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, "if the MIT Technology Review report rings true." Carroll has used CRISPR in his own studies, but was not involved in the new research.

猶他大學(xué)生物化學(xué)系教授德納•卡羅爾說：“如果《麻省理工技術(shù)評論》的報(bào)道是真的，那么這項(xiàng)研究的速度已經(jīng)超出了我的預(yù)期。”卡羅爾曾在自己的研究中使用基因編輯技術(shù)，但并沒有參與這項(xiàng)新研究。

The controversy surrounding gene-editing in human embryos partly stems from concern that the changes CRISPR makes in DNA can be passed down to the offspring of those embryos later in life, from generation to generation. Down the line, that could possibly impact the genetic makeup of humans in erratic ways.

圍繞著人類胚胎基因編輯存在爭論，部分原因是因?yàn)閾?dān)心基因編輯技術(shù)對DNA的改變?nèi)蘸髸?huì)一代接一代傳給那些胚胎的后代。這樣一來，可能會(huì)對人類基因組成產(chǎn)生不穩(wěn)定的影響。

"There is also considerable concern about off-target effects, such as making mutations at sites in the genome other than the intended target," said Carroll. In other words, an edit made in one area of DNA possibly could cause problems in another, as a ripple or domino effect, which could be concerning.

卡羅爾說：“對于脫靶效應(yīng)的擔(dān)憂也很多，比如導(dǎo)致目標(biāo)基因組以外的基因發(fā)生突變。”換句話說，對DNA的一個(gè)區(qū)域進(jìn)行編輯可能在另一區(qū)域引發(fā)問題，就像是連鎖反應(yīng)或多米諾骨牌效應(yīng)，這點(diǎn)也值得擔(dān)憂。

Some CRISPR critics also have argued that gene-editing may give way to eugenics and to allowing embryos to be edited with certain features in order to develop so-called designer babies.

一些基因編輯技術(shù)批評者還認(rèn)為，基因編輯可能會(huì)給優(yōu)生創(chuàng)造條件，致使人們?yōu)榱嗽杏鏊^的“定制嬰兒”而編輯胚胎的某種特征。

Though, not all experts are too concerned.

不過，并非所有專家都憂心忡忡。

The enthusiasm surrounding gene-editing in human embryos partly stems from the promise CRISPR has shown in editing away and treating devastating intractable diseases. Earlier this year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report on human genome editing, addressing potential applications of gene editing, including the possible prevention or treatment of disease.

科學(xué)家們熱衷于人類胚胎基因編輯研究，部分原因是基因編輯技術(shù)已經(jīng)展現(xiàn)出消除和治療致命性疑難雜癥的前景。今年早些時(shí)候，美國國家科學(xué)院、工程院和醫(yī)學(xué)院發(fā)表了一份關(guān)于人類基因組編輯的報(bào)告，討論了基因編輯的潛在應(yīng)用，比如預(yù)防或治療疾病的可能。