China Daily Global Edition (USA)
China reaches a cloning milestone
Editor’s note: On Thursday, the Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced it had cloned two monkeys using non-reproductive somatic cell nuclear transfer in December. Three experts share their opinions on the issue with China Daily’s Zhang Zhouxiang:
Wang Yue, a professor at the Institute of Medical Humanities, Peking University Tang Cheng, a research fellow in gene-editing studies at the Institute of Neroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Welcome news, but we need a new law
Since Dolly the sheep was cloned using somatic cell nuclear transfer in 1997, scientists around the world have been trying to clone primates. None of them succeeded until the Chinese team tasted success.
More important, the Chinese team cloned a primate with non-reproductive cells, which is even more difficult than cloning animals through reproductive cell transfer. The biggest significance of the success is that scientists can now use proper primates for medical tests. The research into many human diseases lags behind because scientists cannot conduct tests on humans. At present, researchers mainly conduct tests on animals such as mice, but there is a huge genetic difference between humans and mice.
With the cloning of primates, it is possible to get large numbers of primates infected with the same diseases as humans, and conduct medical tests on them to find a cure. Such tests will be more effective because primates are genetically much closer to humans than mice.
The cloning of monkeys has also aroused worries, especially raising the question: Will the technology be used to clone humans?
The legislature needs to draft a new law and corresponding regulations on the issue to suit the needs of the times. Technology is neutral, but we need a specific law to prevent vested interests from abusing it. Success will help find cure for diseases
Researchers can edit the genes of a single cell, but not the genes of an animal already born. With the technology used to clone the primates, we can get animals with edited genes.
That is very good news for neuroscience. Many genes, such as those causing Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and autism are similar in pri- mates and humans. With the new technology, we can edit the genes of a monkey piece by piece to find out which gene caused a particular disease and how it can be re-edited leading to a cure.
Besides, there are so-called “tool animals”, such as monkeys with optogenetics, which can be so gene-edited that their nerves are accurately controlled by light. Gene-editing is the only way of cloning these animals and the new technology makes that process much easier.
Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say the success of the Chinese team will make China a leader in the world of neuroscience. Technology needs stronger rules
Cloning animals is quite a mature technology, and there is little dispute over it. However, there are some questions that need answers. For example, will the cloning process cause irreparable damage to the animals? Will the cloned animals pose a threat to humankind?
There are no detailed regulations on animal cloning yet, but some principles must be followed. According to the Human Genome Organization’s declaration on cloning technology in March 1999, the researchers who clone animals must take very good care of the animals, and the purpose of cloning must be made clear before beginning the process. And biodiversity must be given due consideration in the process.
With the Chinese team’s success, cloning technology might achieve more progress in the future, which makes it absolutely necessary to improve the regulations on cloning, so that it can better serve humankind.
Children are accessing the internet at a much younger age than, say, a decade ago. They are also spending more time online. As excessive online exposure can cause physical and/or psychological problems among children, even making them prone to violence, younger kids need special protection agains violent video contents.
With some famous look-alike cartoon characters and false claims of helping children learn about colors and characters, these videos use computer algorithms to lead the viewers toward violent, disturbing scenes. Since prevention is always better, and easier, than cure, the authorities should introduce foolproof firewalls to prevent such videos from entering the online network, and keep an eye on the suspicious products.
Innovative technology — through the dynamic use of algorithm — can play a key role in guaranteeing cybersecurity for children.
The authorities should also strengthen regulation, and improve legislation and implementation. Parents, on their part, should fulfill their responsibility toward their children, and educate them about the dangers of the internet, instead of handing their smartphones or tablets to
That violent videos are harmful for kids is not news. Too much exposure to videos and TV programs can turn kids into “couch potatoes” even if they don’t contain violence and sex. Plus, children are prone to imitating the actions of the characters in the videos, because they cannot differentiate between reality and fantasy. For example, two boys, aged 4 and 7, were found tied to a tree by their 10-year-old playmate in Jiangsu province in 2013, and both had suffered severe burns trying to imitate the actions of a “wolf grilling a goat” in the popular Chinese animation Pleasant Goat and Big Wolf.
So one can imagine what effect the videos that can lure kids into forbidden territories online will have on their mind.
Perhaps the rating system can, to a certain extent, prevent children from accessing “adult” contents. The “Elsagate” scandal (Elsa being the main character in the film Frozen) highlighted the dangers that kids exposed to online face. Elsagate refers to the controversy over supposedly child-friendly videos on YouTube and YouTube Kids that in reality contained themes inappropriate People violating cyber rules must be punished
Zhang Tiankan, a former medical researcher and vice-editorin-chief at Encyclopedia magazine Liu Xiuying, director of Family Education Research Center at China Youth and Children Research Center Du Jiangyong, a professor in the Civil and Commercial Law School at Southwest University of Political Science and Law
There is no specific law that accords cyber-protection to kids. Thousands of videos that look like official versions of popular animations but have hidden contents not suitable for children’s viewing had been drawing plenty of viewers until they were deleted after the recent controversy.
Some evil-minded people made and uploaded countless clips, including violent parodies of popular Disney animation movie Frozen with the main character Elsa, which firstly is a violation of Disney’s copyright.
The importance of enacting a specific law on cybersecurity for children can never be exaggerated. To eliminate the new forms of violence against kids, video platforms should shoulder their social responsibility of removing videos with contents inappropriate for kids’ viewing from online sites meant for children.
Furthermore, a legal provision should be created to allow people other than parents and children to file public litigation to protect children against violent online videos and ensure their safety in cyberspace.