美國首次對人類胚胎進行基因編輯,或能消除家族遺傳病

美國在2017年初對基因編輯技術謹慎放開後，國內科學家就開始在該領域內邁出大步伐。據美國有線電視新聞網（CNN）報導，俄勒岡衛生科學大學的科學家舒赫拉特•米塔利波夫（Shoukhrat Mitalipov）團隊使用基因編輯技術進行了美國首例轉基因人類胚胎實驗。由於牽扯道德倫理問題，人類胚胎研究屢屢處於爭議之中。迄今，只有中美兩國實施過人類胚胎基因編輯。

The MIT Technology Review published on Wednesday a news report about the first-known experiment to create genetically modified human embryos in the United States using a gene-editing tool called CRISPR.
《麻省理工技術評論》雜誌16日報導，美國使用基因編輯工具CRISPR進行了本國首例轉基因人類胚胎實驗。

Shoukhrat Mitalipov, director of the Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, reportedly led the new research. Mitalipov and the university would not confirm details of the research to CNN.
據報導，俄勒岡衛生科學大學胚胎幹細胞與基因治療中心主任舒赫拉特•米塔利波夫是這項新研究的領頭人。舒赫拉特及校方不願向CNN透露研究的細節。

"Results of the peer-reviewed study are expected to be published soon in a scientific journal. No further information will be provided before then," according to an emailed statement from the university's press office. Another researcher cited in the MIT report, the Salk Institute's Jun Wu, did not reply to CNN's request for comment.
該大學新聞辦公室的郵件聲明稱：「同行評審的結果將在近日發表在一家科學雜誌上。在此之前無法透露更多信息。」《麻省理工技術評論》中提到的另一位研究員，索爾克研究所的吳軍（音譯）也沒有回覆CNN的置評請求。

Previously, Mitalipov and his colleagues reported the first success in cloning human stem cells in 2013, successfully reprogramming human skin cells back to their embryonic state. In 2007, a research team led by Mitalipov announced they created the first cloned monkey embryo and extracted stem cells from it.
據報導，舒赫拉特及其同事在2013年首次成功複製人類幹細胞，重新編碼人類皮膚細胞，使其恢復到胚胎狀態。2007年，舒赫拉特領導的研究小組宣布他們創造了首個克隆猴胚胎並從中提取了幹細胞。

The MIT Technology Review reported that the researchers in Portland, Oregon, edited the DNA of a large number of one-cell embryos, specifically targeting genes associated with inherited diseases in those embryos. The MIT Technology Review could not determine which disease genes had been chosen for editing in the new research.
《麻省理工技術評論》報導稱，俄勒岡州波特蘭市的研究人員專門以遺傳疾病相關基因為靶基因，對大量單細胞胚胎進行DNA編輯。該雜誌不能確定這項新的研究選擇哪些致病基因進行編輯。

Previously, scientists in China were the first in the world to reveal attempts to modify genes in human embryos using CRISPR. Three separate papers were published in scientific journals describing various studies in China on gene editing in human embryos.
此前，中國科學家在全球首次公開了使用基因編輯技術修改人類胚胎基因的嘗試，在科學雜誌上發表了三篇不同的論文，介紹中國在人類胚胎基因編輯方面的各項研究。

Yet the research has already generated attention and controversy.
但是，美國的研究仍然引發了關注與爭議。

"This is pushing the research faster than I thought we would see," said Dana Carroll, professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, "if the MIT Technology Review report rings true." Carroll has used CRISPR in his own studies, but was not involved in the new research.
猶他大學生物化學系教授德納•卡羅爾說：「如果《麻省理工技術評論》的報導是真的，那麼這項研究的速度已經超出了我的預期。」卡羅爾曾在自己的研究中使用基因編輯技術，但並沒有參與這項新研究。

The controversy surrounding gene-editing in human embryos partly stems from concern that the changes CRISPR makes in DNA can be passed down to the offspring of those embryos later in life, from generation to generation. Down the line, that could possibly impact the genetic makeup of humans in erratic ways.
圍繞著人類胚胎基因編輯存在爭論，部分原因是因為擔心基因編輯技術對DNA的改變日後會一代接一代傳給那些胚胎的後代。這樣一來，可能會對人類基因組成產生不穩定的影響。

"There is also considerable concern about off-target effects, such as making mutations at sites in the genome other than the intended target," said Carroll. In other words, an edit made in one area of DNA possibly could cause problems in another, as a ripple or domino effect, which could be concerning.
卡羅爾說：「對於脫靶效應的擔憂也很多，比如導致目標基因組以外的基因發生突變。」換句話說，對DNA的一個區域進行編輯可能在另一區域引發問題，就像是連鎖反應或多米諾骨牌效應，這點也值得擔憂。

Some CRISPR critics also have argued that gene-editing may give way to eugenics and to allowing embryos to be edited with certain features in order to develop so-called designer babies.
一些基因編輯技術批評者還認為，基因編輯可能會給優生創造條件，致使人們為了孕育出所謂的「定製嬰兒」而編輯胚胎的某種特徵。

Though, not all experts are too concerned.
不過，並非所有專家都憂心忡忡。

The enthusiasm surrounding gene-editing in human embryos partly stems from the promise CRISPR has shown in editing away and treating devastating intractable diseases. Earlier this year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report on human genome editing, addressing potential applications of gene editing, including the possible prevention or treatment of disease.
科學家們熱衷於人類胚胎基因編輯研究，部分原因是基因編輯技術已經展現出消除和治療致命性疑難雜症的前景。今年早些時候，美國國家科學院、工程院和醫學院發表了一份關於人類基因組編輯的報告，討論了基因編輯的潛在應用，比如預防或治療疾病的可能。

英文來源：CNN
翻譯&編輯：董靜
審校：丹妮