China: Human Gene Approval

In the last few months, China has been racing forward with trials for human genome editing for diseases curable by new technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9. One of their latest trials involves the trial to cure cancerous ova cells from affected mothers and curing known genetic diseases, at various hospitals in Chengdu. It is not yet known whether this will be successful as it attempts this over the course of the rest of the year.

CRISPR editing currently is happening mainly through injection of non-harmful bacteria, as well as injection of DNA into stem cells, as is the case for ova gene editing.

Many ethical questions still exist on the further use of this technology.

Sources:

http://www.nature.com/news/crispr-gene-editing-tested-in-a-person-for-the-first-time-1.20988

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/04/china-is-racing-ahead-of-the-us-in-the-quest-to-cure-cancer-with-crispr/