Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
2. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer – (d) 1, 2 and 3
Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper
Explanation:
Genetic Changes in Germ Cells
Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent. Techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 have made it possible to edit the genome of germ cells (sperm and eggs), which can then pass these genetic changes to future generations. This approach has significant implications for eliminating genetic diseases but also raises ethical concerns.
Genome Editing at the Early Embryonic Stage
A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage. Genome editing technologies like CRISPR can be used to edit the genome of embryos at the early developmental stage. This has been a subject of much debate, especially after the announcement of the birth of the first genetically edited babies in China in 2018, where CRISPR was used to edit embryos to make them resistant to HIV.
Interspecies Chimerism
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be injected into the embryo of a pig. Research has been conducted where human iPSCs are introduced into the embryos of other species, such as pigs, to study the development of human organs within these animals for research and potential organ transplantation. This field is known as interspecies chimerism and has been explored as a way to potentially grow human organs in animals for transplantation, though it also faces significant ethical and technical challenges.
