美國國家科學(xué)院與國家醫(yī)學(xué)院的科學(xué)家與倫理學(xué)家近日在一篇報(bào)告中指出，強(qiáng)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(guān)的基因。報(bào)告稱隨著科技進(jìn)步，對人類生殖細(xì)胞進(jìn)行基因編輯“或?qū)⒆優(yōu)楝F(xiàn)實(shí)，值得嚴(yán)肅考慮?！?/p>

Scientists want to be able to genetically engineer humans so that they do not get diseases.
科學(xué)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(xué)機(jī)構(gòu)最新發(fā)布的一份報(bào)告得出的結(jié)論。報(bào)告要求允許對人類的遺傳DNA進(jìn)行修改，從而刪掉疾病基因或者通過基因編輯治療遺傳病。

Such controversial changes could allow scientists to stop diseases from being passed on to future generations.
科學(xué)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(bào)告具有里程碑式的意義，因?yàn)檫@相當(dāng)于美國國家科學(xué)院和國家醫(yī)學(xué)院正式認(rèn)可對人類卵子、精子或胚胎進(jìn)行基因編輯、刪除、添加的醫(yī)學(xué)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(rèn)為，針對具體問題進(jìn)行基因編輯可能引發(fā)其他更改的趨勢，比如添加選定的生理特征或者優(yōu)化兒童的基因，從而讓他們更強(qiáng)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(jìn)行有效且精準(zhǔn)的“剪切復(fù)制”，該技術(shù)已經(jīng)應(yīng)用于非遺傳“體細(xì)胞”的基礎(chǔ)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(jī)構(gòu)已經(jīng)認(rèn)定不應(yīng)將對人類“生殖細(xì)胞”——遺傳DNA——進(jìn)行基因編輯視為醫(yī)學(xué)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(bào)告稱，未來利用生殖細(xì)胞基因編輯技術(shù)治療或預(yù)防疾病和殘疾是“切實(shí)可行的，值得人們認(rèn)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(jī)構(gòu)指出，目前還不足以證明可以運(yùn)用該技術(shù)對人類患者的遺傳DNA進(jìn)行安全的試驗(yàn)。

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(xiàn)在”不應(yīng)允許以優(yōu)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(bào)告稱，除了治療或預(yù)防疾病，在允許進(jìn)行臨床試驗(yàn)前應(yīng)該對所有存在其他目的的基因編輯進(jìn)行廣泛的公開辯論，包括對非遺傳細(xì)胞的基因編輯在內(nèi)。

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(xué)院與國家醫(yī)學(xué)院機(jī)構(gòu)任命美國威斯康星麥迪遜大學(xué)教授阿爾塔沙羅擔(dān)任一研究委員會的聯(lián)合主席，以調(diào)查基因編輯技術(shù)產(chǎn)生的深遠(yuǎn)影響。阿爾塔沙羅稱，“人類基因組編輯技術(shù)在了解、治療或預(yù)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?！?/p>

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(jìn)行修改，而其他一些國家已經(jīng)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(xì)胞DNA，但存在一項(xiàng)特例。英國議會已經(jīng)認(rèn)定，如果線粒體DNA存在缺陷并且會導(dǎo)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(xì)胞所有遺傳物質(zhì)的0.1%，且不會影響頭發(fā)、眼睛顏色或性格等關(guān)鍵特征。

英文來源：獨(dú)立報(bào)
翻譯&編輯：董靜
審校：丹妮