Gene-editing technology, which has potential to generate designer babies, has been trending topic from last few months. Now on Wednesday, medical specialists have urged for more debate on the use of the genetic technology in future.

With the gene-editing technology, CRISPR-Cas9, researchers can virtually edit any gene and enable them to replace genetic defects. The Wellcome Trust and some research organization in the Britain have called for thoughtful debate on the technology. They asked the scientific community to proceed carefully on the technology, which they described as ‘game-changing’.

In a statement, they said, “This raises important ethical and regulatory questions which need to be anticipated and explored in a timely and inclusive manner”. Katherine Littler, senior policy adviser at the Wellcome Trust, said it is important to start debate on the matter soon. Ethicists, scientists, regulators, doctors and patients should be part of the discussion, Littler added.

The technology grabbed headlines earlier this year when Chinese biologists claimed that they performed the editing of DNA of human embryos. The biologists’ efforts were criticized by a number of science experts who said that alteration of human genome could be dangerous for humanity.

The joint statement by the Wellcome Trust and British groups noted that gene-editing technology was at an early stage and it should be discussed in detail. It is essential to define the ways in which the unique technology could be used, the statement added. The use of CRISPR in research and in patients should be identified, they said.