After Chinese scientists conducted an experiment involving gene editing of human embryos, an ethical debate has been reignited over the controversial issue. The practice is banned in Europe as believed to carry the risk of creating a eugenic society and allowing rich to have engineered children.

Chinese scientists reported earlier this week that there is no need to worry as the study they conducted involved 'non-viable' embryos, which were incapable of resulting in a live birth. The embryos were obtained from local fertility clinics. Online journal Protein & Cell published the study results.

A gene-editing technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9, was used by the researchers led by a gene-function researcher at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, Junjiu Huang, to modify the gene responsible for ß- thalassaemia, a potentially fatal blood disorder.

The researchers say that a lot of challenges are needed to be dealt with for using the method in medical applications.

A stem-cell biologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, George Daley, told Nature, "I believe this is the first report of CRISPR/Cas9 applied to human pre-implantation embryos and as such the study is a landmark, as well as a cautionary tale. Their study should be a stern warning to any practitioner who thinks the technology is ready for testing to eradicate disease genes".

Some researchers have to say that the gene-editing technique is a great way for making it possible one day to eradicate devastating genetic diseases before a baby is born. However, some say that bringing the technique into use is unethical.

Researchers are debating the safety and ethics of the gene editing technique. Huang said their study results have showed how immature science is and a lot needs to be done before it becomes possible to make it beneficial for humanity in future.