Britain Allows Embryo-Killing Genetic Experiments

The government of Britain has taken the shocking step of now allowing scientists to conduct gene-editing experiments on human embryos.

Right now the goal is not to produce modified babies, but to find answers to improve fertility treatments.

The human embryos will be killed after each experiment.

Opponents of the landmark decision say it could open the door to designer babies down the road. They say it's already bad enough that human lives will now be created and destroyed for experiments.

"Of course we want therapeutic cures, but we don't do this at all costs. We don't do this disregarding life itself. We don't do this thinking that we can experiment, we can create something, we can create an embryo at will," said Andrea Williams of Christian Concern.

"The Bible reveals to us our value, as it shows us that we are known before we are formed and that we are created with intentionality and purpose. This kind of experimentation, which involves not only the manipulation of human life but its destruction, disregards that beautiful truth," Williams said.

On the other side, Prof. Peter Braude is a fertility specialist at King's College London and a big fan of genetic experimentation.

"As a doctor you do it all the time. You try and interfere with nature, trying to get rid of babies, trying to cause miscarriages, trying to cause diseases, causing heart attacks," he said.

"We interfere with nature all the time and thank goodness there's an opportunity to do it again," he argued.

The move means British scientists will now be allowed to edit genes by deleting or replacing bits of DNA inside living human cells.

The U.S. does not allow the use of federal funds for embryo modification, but there is no outright ban on gene editing.