贺建奎将自己推送至舆论的风口浪尖

撰文 | 叶水送 

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在第二届全球基因编辑峰会召开之际，来自南方科技大学学者贺建奎率先利用基因编辑技术编辑一对双胞胎的基因，引发全球关注和广泛讨论。

为此美国科学院、工程院以及医学院也在第一时间发表了一份声明。声明如下：

在第二届人类基因组编辑国际峰会召开前夕，我们得知中国一对胚胎基因组被编辑的双胞胎已经出生。领导这项研究的科学家贺建奎将于本周三在峰会上发表演讲。

遗传性基因编辑的临床试验标准一直是许多研究小组争论和讨论的主题。大量的研究为可遗传性基因编辑临床试验提供了指导。2017年，由美国国家科学学院、工程院以及医学院联合发布的一份报告得出的结论是，（人类胚胎的基因修饰）临床试验只有在临床前被同行评议后权衡潜在风险与获益、因医学难题且无其他手段替代，以及在最大透明度和严格监督的条件下，才可能被允许。报告还指出，应谨慎从事这类研究并广泛征求公众意见。它还制定了一个包括10个建议标准的管理框架。2018年，第二份报告由英国纳菲尔德生物伦理委员会（Nuffield Council on Bioethics）独立调查完成，它规定了允许可遗传性基因组编辑干预的情况。中国两名基因编辑婴儿出生的临床方案是否符合这些指导原则还有待确认。

我们希望，本次峰会对话将进一步增进全世界对人类基因组编辑问题的认识。我们的目标是帮助并确保人类基因组编辑研究以负责任的态度进行，从而造福所有人。

声明原文如下

Statement from the Organizing Committee on Reported Human Embryo Genome Editing

HONG KONG -- On the eve of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing, we were informed of the birth of twins in China whose embryonic genomes had been edited. The researcher who led the work, He Jainkui, is scheduled to speak at the summit on Wednesday.

The criteria under which heritable genome-editing clinical trials could be deemed permissible have been the subject of much debate and discussion by many research groups.  Numerous studies have provided guidance for the conduct of heritable genome-editing clinical trials. One such study, a 2017 report by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, concluded that clinical trials might be permitted after peer-reviewed preclinical research further clarifies the potential risks and benefits, only for compelling medical reasons in the absence of reasonable alternatives, and with maximum transparency and strict oversight.  The report noted that such research should be approached with caution and with broad public input.  It specified a regulatory framework that included ten recommended criteria and structures. A second major report, released in 2018, which was the result of an independent inquiry by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics in the U.K., also specifies “circumstances in which heritable genome editing interventions should be permitted.”  Whether the clinical protocols that resulted in the births in China conformed with the guidance in these studies remains to be determined.

We hope that the dialogue at our summit further advances the world’s understanding of the issues surrounding human genome editing.  Our goal is to help ensure that human genome editing research be pursued responsibly, for the benefit of all society.