Germline Gene Editing and Genetic Enhancement: The Value of(Non-)Positional Goods

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 45-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Ranisch
Keyword(s):  
Gene Editing ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
Positional Goods

The Demands of CRISPR’s World

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
J. Benjamin Hurlbut ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Human Life ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
Technical Possibility ◽  
Human Germline Gene Editing

A growing chorus of voices is declaring that CRISPR will revolutionize the ability to control life, including human life. As genetically altering future generations becomes technically realistic, it raises the prospect of genetic enhancement and the specter of eugenics. Prominent scientists are calling for international guidelines to govern human applications of gene-editing technology. They argue that the technical possibility of human germline gene editing makes ethical deliberation urgent. Now that the technology is upon us, the time has come to ask whether we want it. Human germline genetic engineering has long been marked as a morally significant boundary, and in numerous countries it is explicitly prohibited by law. The Oviedo Convention, a legally binding treaty among twenty-nine European countries, prohibits it as a violation of human rights and dignity. Nevertheless, numerous commentators argue that prohibitions made before it was technically possible meant little, and past proscriptions must now be revised.

Hurtling toward Germline Gene Editing

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Veronica R. J. M. Mason ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Editing ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Human Modification ◽  
Current Practices

Genetic enhancement runs up against several moral issues, perhaps the chief of which is the inevitable eugenic attitude it would foster and the associated inequality it would create between those who have the “proper” enhancements and those who do not. For simplicity’s sake, this analysis leaves aside questions related to genetic enhancement and considers only changes made for therapeutic purposes. Regardless, most of the censure of He Jiankui focuses on the results of human modification and often overlooks the prior question of how gene editing research itself conducted. Germline gene editing in humans is not safe or morally licit under current practices and technology, because of its reliance on technologies such as IVF, the danger to and destruction of the embryos used, and the unknown consequences of changing the germline.

scholarly journals CRISPER/cas9-Human Germline Gene Editing: Study of Islamic Ethical and Scientific Perspectives

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Yasir Farooq
Keyword(s):  
Gene Editing ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Stem Cells Therapy ◽  
Human Germline Gene Editing

The advancement of technology in medical science has just changed human lives, as well as biomedical innovations are making human lives better but lesser harmful. In past, scientifically and religiously approved techniques such as testtube baby & human stem cells therapy have served humanity especially infertile and connubial parents. Nowadays, the advancement in CRISPER/cas9 technology which is about human germline gene editing, just rekindled the religious and ethical concerns, especially in Islamic perspectives. Although, human germline genome editing and modification have been started decades ago claims about disease prevention strategies have raised many religious concerns such as tampering with God’s creation, human dignity, safety and efficacy of the technology, and human genetic enhancement. This kind of editing might result in inheritable changes in the human genome. So, questions about its status whether it should be allowed or not, need deep & serious study from religious and ethical perspectives. This study will encompass Islamic perspectives on these concerns in the light of ethical principles of Islam while considering and assessing the permissibility or lawful status of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated human germline gene editing. This research study also aims to address the controversial discussions among Muslim jurists regarding human germline gene editing as well as to comprise the related ethical regulations and concerns.

scholarly journals Intergenerational monitoring in clinical trials of germline gene editing

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Cwik
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Human Subjects Research ◽  
Follow Up Study

Design of clinical trials for germline gene editing stretches current accepted standards for human subjects research. Among the challenges involved is a set of issues concerning intergenerational monitoring—long-term follow-up study of subjects and their descendants. Because changes made at the germline would be heritable, germline gene editing could have adverse effects on individuals’ health that can be passed on to future generations. Determining whether germline gene editing is safe and effective for clinical use thus may require intergenerational monitoring. The aim of this paper is to identify and argue for the significance of a set of ethical issues raised by intergenerational monitoring in future clinical trials of germline gene editing. Though long-term, multigenerational follow-up study of this kind is not without precedent, intergenerational monitoring in this context raises unique ethical challenges, challenges that go beyond existing protocols and standards for human subjects research. These challenges will need to be addressed if clinical trials of germline gene editing are ever pursued.

scholarly journals NIH supports call for moratorium on clinical uses of germline gene editing

Nature ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 567 (7747) ◽  
pp. 175-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie D. Wolinetz ◽  
Francis S. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Gene Editing ◽  
Germline Gene

scholarly journals Germline gene editing and the precautionary principle

Bioethics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian J. Koplin ◽  
Christopher Gyngell ◽  
Julian Savulescu
Keyword(s):  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
The Precautionary Principle

scholarly journals Designing Preclinical Studies in Germline Gene Editing: Scientific and Ethical Aspects

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Nordgren
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Preclinical Studies ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
Ethical Aspects ◽  
Human Germline Gene Editing ◽  
First Time ◽  
Modest Level

AbstractHuman germline gene editing is often debated in hypothetical terms: if it were safe and efficient, on what further conditions would it then be ethically acceptable? This paper takes another course. The key question is: how can scientists reduce uncertainty about safety and efficiency to a level that may justify initiation of first-time clinical trials? The only way to proceed is by well-designed preclinical studies. However, what kinds of investigation should preclinical studies include and what specific conditions should they satisfy in order to be considered well-designed? It is argued that multispecies and multigenerational animal studies are needed as well as human embryo editing without implantation. In order to be possible to translate to first-time clinical trials, animal studies need to satisfy strict conditions of validity. Moreover, embryo studies intended for translation to first-time clinical trials need to correspond to the animal studies in experimental design (with exception of implantation). Only in this way can uncertainty about risk for harm (safety) and prospect of benefit (efficiency) in first-time clinical trials be reduced to a modest level. If uncertainty is not reduced to such a level, first-time clinical trials in germline gene editing should not be initiated.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document