Japan plans to introduce a ban with penalties on implanting a genome-edited fertilized human egg into the womb of a human or another animal amid concerns over “designer babies.” A Japanese government expert panel broadly approved a proposal, including the ban, at a meeting on Thursday 4th December.
Japan plans to introduce a ban with penalties on implanting a genome-edited fertilized human egg into the womb of a human or another animal amid concerns over “designer babies.” A Japanese government expert panel broadly approved a proposal, including the ban, at a meeting Thursday.
Led by Dr. Ryotaro Hashizume of the Graduate School of Medicine, Unit for Genomic Manipulation and Technology Development, the team had successfully developed a technique to eliminate the extra copy of chromosome 21 in cells derived from individuals with Down syndrome. The condition, caused by trisomy 21, affects roughly one in every 700 births and leads to intellectual disabilities and other health complications.
A Japanese research team has identified gene mutations involved in the development of brain aneurysms, a discovery that raises hopes for pharmaceutical treatment of the condition.
About 5 pct of Japanese people are said to have brain aneurysms that have not ruptured. But the only treatment available is surgical procedures such as those using vascular catheters and craniotomy, in which part of the skull is temporarily removed.
When a transplant is performed, rejection occurs if the type of human leukocyte antigens, or HLA, of the donor does not conform with that of the recipient.
Using genome-editing technology, the foundation altered genes related to immune cells to create the iPS cells with lower rejection risk.
A Japanese team led by Keio University said Friday that it has succeeded in identifying in a study using genome analyses the causes of diseases in about half of babies that had been unknown.
Japan’s Keio University said Friday it has started a clinical research to transplant neural progenitor cells derived from induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells into patients with spinal cord injuries, the first such attempt in the world.
It is a one-time therapy for the genetic disorder, which causes motor neuron loss and muscle wasting, and its coverage by insurance will offer hope for patients of the disease and their families.
“The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology has announced that it will expand the scale of clinical research on the utilization of PGT-A, or preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies, for fertility treatment.”
“Deeming that penalties are necessary to prevent abuse of the controversial procedure, Japan’s Cabinet Office is expected to propose the legislation at a bioethics panel’s meeting on April 22. The science and health ministries will discuss the specifics before making a decision in the fall, the sources said.”
Barrier Free Japan