Science & Technology

Scientists debate the ethics of gene editing

By T.K. Randall
December 4, 2015 ·  34 comments

Could we one day manipulate the genes of our children ? Image Credit: CC BY 2.0 US Army RDECOM The movie 'Gattaca' explores the concept of a future in which babies are born genetically perfect with all possibility of inherited disease removed through the use of gene editing - a scenario that ultimately leads to naturally born individuals being considered second-class citizens.

While editing someone's genes like this still falls mainly within the realms of science fiction, it may not be long before achieving such a thing becomes a distinct real-world possibility.

The idea of tinkering with someone's genes however does represent a substantial ethical dilemma.

While using such techniques to stop a baby inheriting a horrible disease would seem to be a moral no-brainer, it might also be possible to use gene editing to create so-called 'designer babies' where a couple could potentially pick multiple physical aspects of their child before they are even born.It might even be possible to enhance a child's physical and cognitive capabilities.

This week a group of high-profile researchers and ethicists convened in Washington D.C. to debate the merits and ethical concerns of human gene editing and its effects on the future of mankind.

The committee ultimately concluded that "it would be irresponsible to proceed with any clinical use of germline editing" without a significant amount of additional study in to the safety of such procedures.

They did however state that "as scientific knowledge advances and societal views evolve, the clinical use of germline editing should be revisited on a regular basis."

So while human gene editing is off the table for the time being, there is nothing to say that such a thing won't become a part of everyone's lives within the not-too-distant future.

Source: National Geographic | Comments (34)

Tags: Gene Editing, Genetics