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| DNA Double Helix (Image by Zephyris) |
The Nuffield
Council on Bioethics within the United
Kingdom has recently stated that “genome
editing is not morally unacceptable
in itself.” It could be “morally
permissible” when “in the future child’s
interests,” as well as in society’s.
Therein lies
the paradox. What’s good for a
particular individual is not necessarily good
for society as a whole. Opening
Pandora’s Box in order to “fix” an embryo
may result in dire consequences that cannot
be reversed.
Families
that can afford such a procedure could then
have “designer babies” that lack some
genetic abnormalities. All well and good. But what about all those who cannot afford to meddle
with DNA? Will they be more and more
shunned? Will treatments for them be less and less
available?
And where would
it end? If families could afford to edit out inherited diseases,
they might then wish to alter other traits. Would this result in a blueprint for supermodel
embryos? Would colors, shapes and sizes be
chosen via the internet? Would certain types
be ostracized even more than they
currently are?
This is not
science fiction. We are on the verge of a
whole new world that may be more brave than
it is wise.
Resources
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/msn/genetically-modified-babies-given-go-ahead-by-uk-ethics-body/ar-AAAbmOk
Copyright July 17, 2018 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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