Heritable Genome Editing

Genome editing is deliberate alterations of targeted DNA sequencing in a living cell, theoretically it could be used to assist reproduction to alter DNA of a human embryo. Currently not lawful in many countries, but could become an option for parents wishing to influence genetic characteristics of their offspring to for example exclude heritable disease and/or predisposition to cancer later in life. The possibility this technology has raised a being a new approach to reproductive choices could have implications for individuals and all of society, as a result some feel action must be taken now to support public and scientific debate regarding its use, and to put into place appropriate governance.

Genome editing and human reproduction opens up a list of social and ethical issues that arise in relation to the prospect of the process becoming available as a reproductive option for prospective parents, such as principals that it should be intended to secure and be consistent with the welfare of the future person; and should not increase disadvantage, discrimination or division in society. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has recommended that these interventions should only be permitted when: sufficient opportunity for broad and inclusive public debate has occurred; further research has been conducted to establish clinical safety standards; risks of adverse effects for individuals, groups, and society have been assessed with measure in place to monitor and review; it is strictly regulated; licensed on case by case basis; and introduced in context of clinical study monitoring long term effects on individuals.

This advancing technology does have the possibility to be used for heritable genome editing interventions to be used at some point in the future, possibly near future, in regards to assisted human reproduction as means to secure certain characteristics, that may involve preventing inheritance of a specific genetic disorder. As this technology continues to develop and advance it does in fact have the potential to become an alternative strategy for parents to achieve a wider range of goals. Uncertainty exists over the types of things genome editing may be able to achieve, but given how the field has advanced or how much further it can spread, potential use of genome editing to influence characteristic of future generations has countless possibilities, which could have impacts on individuals, families, and society. Some feel that it is important to address these possibilities before people start to ask to use this technology in this manner to ensure that this rather promising technology is not used against public interest.

Currently there are reproductive options available to prospective parents facing possibility of passing on inherited genetic disorders that genome editing may be used alongside with such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis which involves testing embryos for genetic characteristics and selecting one(s) with preferred sets of characteristics. Not all countries permit research on human embryos, or have laws that permit genome editing intervention on embryos to be placed in a womb, these laws would need to be changed to allow use of genome editing of embryos, eggs, or sperm for reproduction.

One of the main reasons use of genome editing interventions for use in human reproduction bringing controversial debate is that its use and changes made will be passed onto future generations, and not enough research has been done to determine long term effects and outcomes. Great advances are happening in the field showing that genes alone do not shape a person, the possibility of using this technology to secure and/or avoid characteristics in a person offers a new approach that is likely to appeal to a great many prospective parents. While there may be good reasons for allowing use of the technology, uses need to be careful not to increase social disadvantage, discrimination or division, and close attention must be paid to the welfare of any involved, especially the child to be born.

Genome editing is deliberate alteration of selected DNA sequencing with a living cell, techniques can be used to alter how a gene functions,such as changing a variant of a gene that may give rise to disease to one that does not. CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing method that is now widely used in research with much success. Heritable genome editing interventions are made to egg, sperm, embryo cells, or their precursors, that edited DNA sequence would then be present in all cells of any future person grown from those cells, passed on from generation to generation. That could be a good thing, or it could be a bad thing, depending on one’s personal opinion. The idea of voiding disease is a great concept, one that is worthy of any and all debate.