Controversy: Editing Human Embryos to Prevent Disease (CRISPR)

Current Event:

One of the most pressing bioethical debates in recent years centers around the use of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology on human embryos. This technology holds immense potential for preventing the transmission of genetic diseases from parents to children. However, its application raises significant ethical concerns.

Summary of the Controversy:

• CRISPR-Cas9 is a powerful gene editing tool that allows scientists to precisely alter an organism’s DNA.
• Potential Benefits: This technology offers the possibility of eliminating the transmission of a wide range of genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, and Tay-Sachs disease.
• Ethical Concerns:
  • Off-target effects: CRISPR editing carries the risk of unintended changes to the genome, potentially leading to unforeseen consequences.
  • Germline editing: Editing genes in embryos creates modifications that can be passed on to future generations, raising concerns about unintended consequences for future offspring.
  • Designer babies: The potential for using this technology for non-therapeutic purposes, such as enhancing physical or cognitive traits, is ethically problematic.
  • Social justice issues: Access to this technology could exacerbate existing inequalities if not widely available.

Ethical Issues:

• Balancing potential benefits with potential risks: Weighing the possibility of preventing devastating diseases against the risks of unintended consequences is a complex ethical challenge.
• Informed consent: Obtaining informed consent from embryos for this type of intervention is impossible. Ethical considerations regarding parental consent and potential long-term impacts on offspring are crucial.
• Equity and access: Ensuring equitable access to this technology to prevent a widening gap between the wealthy and the underprivileged is a major ethical concern.
• The “slippery slope”: The potential for using this technology for non-therapeutic purposes raises concerns about a slippery slope towards designer babies and altering the human germline in unforeseen ways.

Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH): Congressional Briefing on Human Germline Editing [invalid URL removed]

Conclusion:

The use of CRISPR on human embryos presents a complex ethical dilemma. While the potential to eliminate genetic diseases is significant, the associated risks and long-term implications require careful consideration. Ongoing public discourse and clear ethical guidelines are crucial as this technology continues to develop.