A prudent path forward for genomic engineering and germline gene modification

In the paper

“focused on the issue of human germline engineering, as the methods have already been demonstrated in mice (6) and monkeys (7).”

What the sources say

• Supported

  The Introduction states that the authors use CRISPR/Cas to edit multiple genes in stem cells and mice, and the Discussion reports generating mice with multiple genetic alterations. This source supports the mice portion of the citing sentence; the monkeys portion is assigned to a separate citation. (LLM, conf=0.93)

  cites [6] Wang H Cell 2013 153 910 Medline 23643243 PMC3969854 source
• Supported

  The citation to this paper supports the monkey part of the sentence. The Summary reports CRISPR/Cas9 gene targeting in one-cell-stage cynomolgus monkey embryos and the generation of gene-modified monkeys; the mice citation is separate. (LLM, conf=0.93)

  cites [7] Niu Y Cell 2014 156 836 Medline 24486104 source

In the paper

“The technique also allows DNA sequence changes in pluripotent embryonic stem cells (4) that can then be cultured to produce specific tissues, such as cardiomyocytes or neurons (5).”

What the sources say

• Partly supported

  The paper’s genome-targeting results report CRISPR-Cas9 editing in human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, supporting the claim that the technique can change DNA in pluripotent cells. It does not report editing embryonic stem cells; the citing sentence attaches this source to that part, while assigning the tissue-differentiation claim to citation (5). (LLM, conf=0.88)

  cites [4] Mali P Science 2013 339 823 Medline 23287722 PMC3712628 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
• Supported

  Citation (4) is attached to the claim that CRISPR-Cas9 allows DNA sequence changes in pluripotent embryonic stem cells, not to the later examples of cardiomyocytes or neurons. The Introduction identifies human embryonic stem cells as human pluripotent stem cells and describes CRISPR/Cas genome editing in those cells; Section 2 reports highly efficient editing at target loci. (LLM, conf=0.93)

  cites [5] Zhu Z González F Huangfu D Methods Enzymol 2014 546 215 Medline 25398343 PMC4418970 source

In the paper

“Although characterized by some as another form of “germline” engineering, mitochondrial transfer raises different issues and has already been approved by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and by Parliament in the United Kingdom (10) and is being considered by the Institute of Medicine and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States (11).”

What the sources say

• ?Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  cites [11] U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee Meeting: Announcement www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/Calendar/ucm380042.htm; www.iom.edu/activities/research/mitoethics.aspx.

In the paper

“Humans are no exception—changes to the human germ line could be made using this simple and widely available technology.”

In the paper

“For example, the CRISPR-Cas9 system enables introduction of DNA sequence changes that correct genetic defects in whole animals, such as replacing a mutated gene underlying liver-based metabolic disease in a mouse model (3).”

What the sources say

• Not checked yetcites [3] Yin H Nat. Biotechnol 2014 32 551 Medline 24681508 PMC4157757 source

In the paper

“Even this seemingly straightforward scenario raises serious concerns, including the potential for unintended consequences of heritable germline modifications,”