This conclusion can be made by reading the message about the plans of Denis Rebrikov, a molecular biologist at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. In his opinion, a small mutation leading to incurable deafness is a good reason to try modern methods on humans.
One of the notable news last year was the announcement of the birth of the first children with an artificially altered genome in China. The author of the experiment, Dr. He Jiankui, stated that his goal was to create immunity to AIDS in children. We wrote in detail about this experiment, its immediate consequences and long-term results.
Rebrikov is setting himself less ambitious goals, according to New Scientist. Its "target" is a mutation in the GJB2 gene: when it appears, one of the nucleotides disappears from the DNA chain. If only one of the parents was the carrier of this mutation, then nothing threatens the child, but, if both, their child will inevitably be born deaf. At the same time, it is not difficult to "fix" DNA, and it seems that it does not threaten any side effects.
The mutation is widespread on the territory of the Russian Federation - in Western Siberia and around it. Rebrikov has already managed to find several married couples who have it who understand the choice before them: either participation in the experiment, or the incurable deafness of any child they give birth to.
It is reported that Rebrikov in the coming weeks will apply for permission to conduct an experiment in the authorized bodies. True, it is not very clear who in Russia now has the right to permit or prohibit such experiments.
Sergey Sysoev