Do CRISPR Germline Ethics Statements Cut It?

Abstract

The extraordinary wave of genomic-engineering innovation, driven by CRISPR-Cas9, has sparked worldwide scientific and ethical uncertainty. Great concern has arisen across the globe about whether heritable genome editing should be permissible in humans-that is, whether it is morally acceptable to modify genomic material such that the "edit" is transferable to future generations. Here I examine 61 ethics statements released by the international community within the past 3 years about this controversial issue and consider the statements' overarching positions and limitations. Despite their inability to fully address all important considerations, many of the statements may advance debate and national and international law and public policy.

FIG. 1.

Cover Story: More than 60 official reports and statements about the ethics of germline editing have been published within the past three years.

FIG. 2.

Bioethics considerations. Extracts from some selected reports on genome editing illustrate a diversity of opinions on some key bioethical issues.

FIG. 3.

Opinions on the moral permissibility of heritable genome editing. This pie chart displays the views of 61 ethics reports on germline editing. The views represented are not logically exhaustive. The majority (54%) expressly considered germline editing impermissible at the current time.^{,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,} A further 11% also consider germline editing impermissible currently, but are expressly open to the possibility of allowing it under certain conditions.^,,,,,, In 30% of cases, the position is not expressly addressed or is ambiguous.^{,,,,,,,,,,,,,} And 5% of the reports state an openness to further exploration.^,,