Thread: GM mouse sperm and human implications

'Designer sperm' inserts custom genes into offspring


The sperm from mice have been genetically modified using lentiviruses to carry new genes, and the modification has appeared in the offspring of the mice created using those sperm.

There are already a hell of a lot of human children produced using sperm in a laboratory, either via artificial fertilisation or the "test tube baby" approach. Does this mean that the first genetically modified humans are not far away? Will we modify human sperm to eliminate genetic disease? Or to introduce new desirable genetic qualities?

Oh I'm sure there's going to be lots of regulation and scare-mongering that'll ensure that will never happen.

Daecon

I am sure you are right. But legislation will only affect certain countries. Do you not think that it will happen anyway, where legislation is weak or has not been passed?

Originally Posted by Daecon

Oh I'm sure there's going to be lots of regulation and scare-mongering that'll ensure that will never happen.

Hmm. We already do sex selection for IVF embryos; I'm not sure this will be seen as very much different. Indeed it would be very hard to make the case that a couple that is at high risk for cystic fibrosis should be banned from using such a procedure. At least in popular media, one heartrending story about an actual dead child can counter dozens of scary predictions.

Has anyone seen the movie Gattaca? I expect it wont be long before people start making comparisons. (Myself not included.)