Consider the following statements : Genetic changes can be introduce

Consider the following statements :

  • Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
  • A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
  • Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 and 3 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2020
All three statements are correct descriptions of capabilities or research areas in genetic technologies.
Statement 1: Genetic changes can be introduced in germline cells (cells that produce eggs or sperm) using gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9. This is technically feasible, meaning the capabilities exist to perform such modifications. However, editing the germline in humans is highly controversial due to ethical concerns regarding heritable changes and is subject to strict regulations or prohibitions in most countries. The statement says “can be introduced”, which is true from a technical standpoint. Correct.
Statement 2: A person’s genome can be edited at a very early stage of development, such as the embryonic stage before implantation or shortly after. This is known as embryo editing or pre-implantation genetic modification. Gene editing tools can be applied to correct genetic mutations in embryos. Similar to germline editing, this is technically possible but raises significant ethical debates and regulatory challenges. Correct.
Statement 3: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or human embryonic stem cells can be injected into the embryos of other species, such as pigs or sheep, to create human-animal chimeras. The goal of such research is often to study human development, model diseases, or potentially grow human tissues or organs within the animal host for future transplantation purposes. This is an active area of biomedical research. Correct.
Advances in genetic engineering, particularly the development of precise gene editing tools like CRISPR, have opened up new possibilities but also raised complex ethical, legal, and social questions regarding their application in humans and other organisms.
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