article_snippet.sent: Dr Nisar Wani, scientific director of the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, told The National:
article_snippet.sent: Human embryos have been genetically modified so that any changes made will be carried on into future generations for the first time, according to scientists.
article_snippet.sent: Researchers around The world are bracing Researchers around the world for the results of a study by scientists in China that has introduced DNA changes to reproductive cells.
article_snippet.sent: Human embryos, like the one above, may have been genetically modified with new gene editing techniques .
article_snippet.sent: However, others argue that the technology could also be used to rid families of devastating inherited diseases like cystic fibrosis or certain cancers.
article_snippet.sent: Until now scientists have concentrated on using genome editing techniques on somatic cells - non-reproductive cells like those found in skin, muscle, nerves, bone and liver for example - to help scientists study diseases.
article_snippet.sent: Modifying the DNA of human embryos so that DNA changes are preserved in the germline -
article_snippet.sent: the sperm and eggs - means such alterations can be passed on to future generations.
article_snippet.sent: A number of groups around the world are thought to be working on techniques to genetically modify human embryos.