Human embryo editing proves successful

Crispr is a gene editing technology that is revolutionising science at an incredibly fast pace.

Some of its most exciting applications are the ability to tweak genes of eggs, sperm or embryos to alter human life - cosmetically, or more importantly to eradicate disease causing genetic mutations that parents can pass on, such as cystic fibrosis, breast or ovarian cancer.. A group of US Scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University have published a report where CRISPR has been used to correct a genetic mutation linked to a heart disorder called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in human embryos. This understandably has a huge range of implications and raises a number of questions of ethics and law. Harry spoke with Dr Jeanne Snelling, research fellow in bioethics and health Law at the University of Otago, on these potential implications and just whether this kind of procedure would succeed or at all be possible in New Zealand.