As gene editing improves we may reach safety levels that make it appropriate for use on embryos. However, in contrast to gene editing in adult cells, there are ethical issues that relate to consent and inheritance. Consent is impossible to achieve when editing embryos and, importantly, any genetic changes made to an embryo will be passed down to future generations.
Should parents have the right to decide if their offspring will have their genome edited – just as parents are able to vaccinate babies without their consent? Some may argue that editing of embryos should be allowed if it addresses an unmet health need, but who decides what is an unmet health need? Some may want to ‘fix’ a genetic condition where others feel it contributes to the rich tapestry of human life. Some, for religious or cultural reasons for example, may think it is wrong to edit DNA in any situation. And, of course, if gene editing is ‘justified’, who will pay? Who will be able to afford to take advantage of the new technology, and what might that mean for those who cannot? Finally, by opening the Pandora’s box of gene editing of embryos these technologies could be used for unethical purposes – such as to create ‘designer babies’.
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