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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Ian Sample and Hannah Devlin

Forthcoming genetic therapies raise serious ethical questions, experts warn

Gene editing
Medicines derived from gene editing tools could transform the treatment of blood disorders, heart conditions, eye and muscle disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Photograph: Westend61 GmbH/Alamy

The next generation of advanced genetic therapies raises profound medical and ethical issues that must be thrashed out to ensure the game-changing technology benefits patients and society, a group of world-leading experts has warned.

Medicines based on powerful gene editing tools will begin to transform the treatment of blood disorders, conditions affecting the heart, eyes and muscles, and potentially even neurodegenerative diseases before the end of the decade, but the cost will put them out of the reach of many patients.

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