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Starting the conversation: CRISPR's role in India
Farhad Udwadia1, Shivam Singh2
1University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA; Neuroethics Canada Office, Koerner Pavilion, 2211 Wesbrook Mall Room S124, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, CANADA.
Indian Journal of Medical Ethics
|June 20, 2019
Summary
India lacks CRISPR gene editing regulations, posing risks due to unique sociocultural factors and regulatory gaps. Urgent ethical guidelines are needed to address potential misuse and prioritize public health concerns.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Bioethics
- Genetics
Background:
- Gene editing technologies like CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) are rapidly advancing globally.
- India currently lacks legally enforceable regulations for CRISPR technology.
- The unique Indian regulatory, sociocultural, and economic landscape necessitates specific ethical considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the regulatory capacity in India for enforcing ethical standards in CRISPR applications.
- To identify unique driving forces in India that could lead to the misuse of CRISPR technology.
- To question the prioritization of CRISPR within India's public health agenda.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines.
- Analysis of sociocultural norms and public demands in India.
- Discussion of potential risks and benefits of CRISPR in the Indian context.
Main Results:
- Uncertainty exists regarding India's regulatory capacity to enforce ethical CRISPR standards.
- Sociocultural factors, including preferences for fair skin and demand for prenatal sex determination, present risks for CRISPR misuse.
- The study highlights a gap in addressing CRISPR's ethical implications within India's public health priorities.
Conclusions:
- India requires robust, enforceable regulations for CRISPR gene editing.
- Addressing unique sociocultural drivers is crucial to prevent misuse of CRISPR technology.
- The ethical and public health implications of CRISPR necessitate its urgent consideration in national policy.