科學家或將改造人類基因以治療遺傳病

美國國家科學院與國家醫學院的科學家與倫理學家近日在一篇報告中指出，強大的基因編輯工具雖然尚未成熟，但有朝一日或能用來移除人類胚胎、卵子和精子中與遺傳病相關的基因。報告稱隨著科技進步，對人類生殖細胞進行基因編輯“或將變為現實，值得嚴肅考慮。”

Scientists want to be able to genetically engineer humans so that they do not get diseases.
科學家們希望能夠改造人類基因從而使他們免于病痛。

That is the conclusion of a new report from two of the world's most elite scientific institutions, which calls for people to be allowed to make modifications to inherited human DNA so that diseases are edited out or treatments are edited in.
這是兩家世界頂尖科學機構最新發布的一份報告得出的結論。報告要求允許對人類的遺傳DNA進行修改，從而刪掉疾病基因或者加入治療基因。

Such controversial changes could allow scientists to stop diseases from being passed on to future generations.
科學家可以通過這種備受爭議的改變阻止疾病遺傳給后代。

The report is a landmark because it in effect amounts to an official sanctioning – by the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine – of medical research that looks to edit, remove or add DNA in human eggs cells, sperm or embryos.
該報告具有里程碑式的意義，因為這相當于美國國家科學院和國家醫學院正式認可對人類卵子、精子或胚胎進行基因編輯、刪除、添加的醫學研究。

But opponents have argued that editing for specific problems could begin a trend for making other changes, like adding selected physical features or optimising children so that they are strong or fast.
但反對者認為，針對具體問題進行基因編輯可能引發其他更改的趨勢，比如添加選定的生理特征或者優化兒童的基因，從而讓他們更強壯或成長得更快。

Gene editing, which effectively allows the precise "cutting and pasting" of DNA, is already used in basic research and clinical studies that involve non-heritable "somatic" cells.
基因編輯可以對DNA進行有效且精準的“剪切復制”，該技術已經應用于非遺傳“體細胞”的基礎研究和臨床研究。

Now the two elite organisations have ruled that gene editing of the human "germline" - inherited DNA - should not be seen as a red line in medical research.
如今，這兩家一流機構已經認定不應將對人類“生殖細胞”——遺傳DNA——進行基因編輯視為醫學研究中的紅線。

Future use of germline gene editing to treat or prevent disease and disability is a "realistic possibility that deserves serious consideration", the report says.
報告稱，未來利用生殖細胞基因編輯技術治療或預防疾病和殘疾是“切實可行的，值得人們認真考慮”。

However, the two academies point out that the technology is not yet safe enough to justify testing it on the inherited DNA of human patients.
然而，兩家機構指出，目前還不足以證明可以運用該技術對人類患者的遺傳DNA進行安全的試驗。

They add that gene editing for enhancement should not be allowed "at this time" - but do not rule it out completely.
他們還稱，“現在”不應允許以優化為目的的基因編輯——但并不完全將其排除在外。

A broad public debate should be held before permitting clinical trials, even those involving non-inherited DNA, for any purpose other than treating or preventing disease, the report says.
該報告稱，除了治療或預防疾病，在允許進行臨床試驗前應該對所有存在其他目的的基因編輯進行廣泛的公開辯論，包括對非遺傳細胞的基因編輯在內。

Professor Alta Charo, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, who co-chaired a study committee appointed by the academies to investigate the wider implications of gene editing, said: "Human genome editing holds tremendous promise for understanding, treating or preventing many devastating genetic diseases, and for improving treatment of many other illnesses."
美國國家科學院與國家醫學院機構任命美國威斯康星麥迪遜大學教授阿爾塔沙羅擔任一研究委員會的聯合主席，以調查基因編輯技術產生的深遠影響。阿爾塔沙羅稱，“人類基因組編輯技術在了解、治療或預防許多致命性遺傳疾病、提高多種其他疾病的治療水平方面存在巨大潛力。”

Research that involves modifying inherited genes in human embryos is currently not allowed in the US, and a number of other countries have signed an international convention that prohibits it.
目前，美國還不允許對人類胚胎中的遺傳基因進行修改，而其他一些國家已經簽署了禁止該行為的國際公約。

Altering germline DNA is also banned in the UK, with one important exception. Parliament has ruled that inherited DNA in the mitochondria can be replaced if they are defective and the cause of devastating diseases that are passed down from mothers to their children.
英國也禁止修改生殖細胞DNA，但存在一項特例。英國議會已經認定，如果線粒體DNA存在缺陷并且會導致母體將致命性疾病遺傳給孩子，那么可以將其替換。

Mitochondrial DNA makes up only about 0.1 percent of all the inherited genetic material in a human cell and does not affect key characteristics such as hair and eye colour or personality.
線粒體DNA僅占人類細胞所有遺傳物質的0.1%，且不會影響頭發、眼睛顏色或性格等關鍵特征。

英文來源：獨立報
翻譯&編輯：董靜
審校：丹妮