Analysis published in the medical ethics journal Bioethics has claimed the risks involved in gene modification are now low enough to warrant its use with human embryos.
Writing in the journal, Dr Kevin Smith says an “ethically-sound attempt” could be less than two years away.
Researchers from Abertay University in Dundee said research in this area would offer hope to parents at risk of transmitting serious genetic disease to their future children.
Recent studies show that genetic modification is the only way to deal with multiple disease-associated genes within an embryo.
Dr Trevor Stammers from the Christian Medical Fellowship told Premier the medical development isn’t as extreme as some might think.
“Changing genes in people who carry diseases is one thing,” Stammers said.
“Designer babies, which conjures up being able to choose children who are good at the violin and are going to win the Olympics is a totally different matter which is light-years away.”
When asked whether he viewed the practice as unethical, Stammers urged Christians not to use the expression “playing God” too flippantly.
“I think the phrase has been used wrongly by Christians to condemn every medical advance.
“We need to be very careful about misusing biblical verses to pre-empt things that we just feel uncomfortable about,” he added.
Although Stammers does not have any moral objection to…
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