Genome Editing 2020: Ethics and Human Rights in Germline Editing in Humans and Gene Drives in Mosquitoes

Area of Science:

• Genomic Engineering
• Bioethics
• Human Rights

Background:

• The moon landing marked a peak in space travel, but genetic engineering, particularly CRISPR, now presents greater public and ethical challenges.
• Genomic engineering applications like human genome editing and gene drives in insects directly modify evolutionary mechanisms.
• These technologies raise profound questions about human identity, our relationship with the planet, and necessitate novel approaches to informed consent and dual-use concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the ethics and human rights implications of controversial genomic engineering applications.
• To analyze the challenges posed by human genome editing and gene drives.
• To explore the applicability of human rights principles to genomic research ethics.

Main Methods:

• Review of regulatory attempts for human germline editing, including the first application and its consequences.
• Discussion on establishing ethical standards for gene drives, a technology not yet deployed in the environment.
• Analysis of human rights frameworks in the context of genomic research.

Main Results:

• Past attempts to regulate human germline editing have been largely unsuccessful.
• Gene drives present unique ethical challenges due to their potential environmental impact and lack of established regulatory frameworks.
• Human rights principles offer a robust foundation for defining the ethical boundaries of genomic research.

Conclusions:

• Genomic engineering technologies like CRISPR necessitate careful ethical consideration and robust regulatory oversight.
• The potential to alter human evolution and ecosystems requires a proactive, human rights-centered ethical approach.
• Integrating human rights into the ethical governance of genomic research is crucial for responsible innovation.