In the 1970s, scientists realized that there might be unforeseendangers and ethical issues with the use of recombinant DNAtechnology. A self-imposed moratorium on related research wasimplemented to develop safety protocols. As the Human GenomeProject, designed to sequence and analyze the DNA of the humangenome, came into existence in 1990, it was accompanied by the Ethical,Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) program. ELSI was chargedwith identifying and addressing issues arising from genomic research.This program focused mainly on privacy issues, the ethicaluse of genetic technology in medicine, and the design and conductof genetic research, including gene therapy. The program ledto the passage of federal legislation regulating the use of geneticinformation and the institution of guidelines limiting the scope ofgene therapy. These guidelines prohibit germ-line therapy, whichimpacts future generations, and also prohibit gene therapy designedto enhance physical or mental aptitudes.The recent development of CRISPR-Cas as a new genetic technologymay allow for the removal of mutant alleles that cause devastatingneurological disorders such as Huntington disease andprevent its transmission to future generations. Similar technologycould be used to selectively eradicate the species of mosquito thattransmits malaria, a painful and life-shortening disease that affectsmillions worldwide. With the development of these revolutionarymethods, there are calls to redefine issues and to institute a new set of ethical guidelines for using these methods to eliminategenetic disorders and to revolutionize agriculture. Q: Do we have the ethical right to alter the genomes of future generationsof humans even if intervention eliminates lethal alleles?
In the 1970s, scientists realized that there might be unforeseen
dangers and ethical issues with the use of recombinant DNA
technology. A self-imposed moratorium on related research was
implemented to develop safety protocols. As the Human Genome
Project, designed to sequence and analyze the DNA of the human
genome, came into existence in 1990, it was accompanied by the Ethical,
Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) program. ELSI was charged
with identifying and addressing issues arising from genomic research.
This program focused mainly on privacy issues, the ethical
use of genetic technology in medicine, and the design and conduct
of genetic research, including gene therapy. The program led
to the passage of federal legislation regulating the use of genetic
information and the institution of guidelines limiting the scope of
gene therapy. These guidelines prohibit germ-line therapy, which
impacts future generations, and also prohibit gene therapy designed
to enhance physical or mental aptitudes.
The recent development of CRISPR-Cas as a new genetic technology
may allow for the removal of mutant alleles that cause devastating
neurological disorders such as Huntington disease and
prevent its transmission to future generations. Similar technology
could be used to selectively eradicate the species of mosquito that
transmits malaria, a painful and life-shortening disease that affects
millions worldwide. With the development of these revolutionary
methods, there are calls to redefine issues and to institute a new set of ethical guidelines for using these methods to eliminate
genetic disorders and to revolutionize agriculture.
Q: Do we have the ethical right to alter the genomes of future generations
of humans even if intervention eliminates lethal alleles?
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