WHO on Human Genome Editing

In two recent papers, WHO focuses on safety, efficacy, and ethics to help establish human genome editing as a tool for public health. Germline, Somatic, and heritable human genome editing were the focus of a two-year consultation.  Editing of genome-based on Human genome project registries, foreign medical travel, unregistered, unlawful, education, and empowerment are only some of the issues covered in the nine papers on governance and monitoring of human genome editing. To ensure that human genome editing can be carried out safely, effectively, and ethically in all nations, the WHO has issued recommendations for human genome projects for system improvements.

The Human Genome Project (HGP)

Base-pairing analysis of human DNA and the identification, mapping, and sequencing of each gene’s physical sequence were the primary objectives of the Human Genome Project, an international collaboration of scientists. It’s still the biggest collaborative biological project in the world. It’s still going. The project was officially launched in 1990 and was declared mainly complete on April 14, 2003, but only included about 85 percent of the genome. Planning began in earnest after the US government picked up the idea in 1984. In May 2021, the “full genome” level was reached, with only 0.3 per cent of the genome still unaccounted for. In January of 2022,  finally completed the Y chromosome.

The main purpose of the human genome project

The goals of the human genome project are:

•  Taking a look at the whole genome     
•  A better way to analyse the data
• The complete human genome has been found

About CRISPR

Living organisms’ genomes can be edited using the molecular biology process known as CRISPR gene editing. CRISPR-Cas9 is an antiviral defence system derived from bacteria that uses a simplified version of this technology. It is possible to insert and remove genes in living cells using the Cas9 nuclease complexed with an artificially synthesised guide RNA (gRNA), which may be sent into a cell and cut the genome at the desired site.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHO ON human genome editing

1. It is the first time that the World Health Organization (WHO) has made global recommendations about using human genome editing for public health in a safe way and making it work well.
2. It was the first time that people from all over the world came together to talk about how to make changes to the human genome. Hundreds of people from all over the world, including scientists, researchers, patient groups, and indigenous people, took part in the two-year consultation.
3. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this: “Human genome editing could help us improve our ability to treat and cure disease.” However, we’ll get the most out of it if we use it to help everyone instead of causing more health disparities between and within countries.
4. In the future, people could be able to edit their genomes to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of genetic illnesses, among other things. People with HIV, sickle-cell disease and transthyretin amyloidosis have improved with somatic gene therapies, which change a person’s DNA to treat or cure an illness. The method has the power to change how cancer patients are treated.
5. Germline and heritable human genome editing, for example, has a lot of risks because it can change the genome of human embryos and pass it on to future generations, which could change the features of descendants.
6. Human genome editing registries, foreign research, and medical travel; unlawful, unlicensed, unethical, or hazardous research; intellectual property; and education, involvement, and empowerment are just topics covered in the studies issued today. The proposals focus on system-level enhancements to ensure that human genome editing is used safely, effectively, and ethically.
7. They also give a new framework for government oversight by outlining concrete instruments, organisations, and scenarios that highlight the real difficulties of executing, controlling, and overseeing human genome research. 

The governance framework addresses specific scenarios

• Sickle cell disease could be treated using somatic human genome editing if a clinical trial were to be conducted in West Africa
• Somatic or epigenetic genome editing has been proposed to enhance athletic performance
• A hypothetical clinic in a country where heritable human genome editing is practised with little regulation provides these services to overseas clients after IVF and preimplantation genetic testing

Conclusion

Human genome editing is a technology that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends for public health purposes. To ensure that That can do human genome editing can be done ethically and safely in all countries, WHO reports emphasise the importance of safety, efficacy, and ethics. The nine publications on governance and monitoring of human genome editing include human genome editing registries, overseas medical travel, and education and empowerment. The WHO has released genome editing based on the human genome project by governance and supervision suggestions. Genome editing should be utilised safely and ethically in all countries, according to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General.