Your Turn: Should We Genetically Modify Human Babies?

The story

The United Kingdom’s bioethics council just gave the ethical green light to genetically modifying human embryos.

They determined that changing a baby’s DNA would be “morally permissible” if it were in the child’s best interests.

Current UK law bans genetically altering human embryos, and the bioethics council’s recommendation doesn’t change that. Rather, it recommends additional research into and debate on safety and social implications.

Why it matters

A small number of experiments have demonstrated that editing DNA could spare children from inheriting serious genetic diseases, at least in principle.

However, a new study found that the most popular tool for genome editing causes more damage to DNA than previously understood.

Concerns about gene editing abound:

• Gene modifications get passed down to future generations, for better or for worse.
• Parents might start making “designer babies,” selecting for non-health attributes such as hair color, height, and more.
• In the event of widespread uptake, people who are still born with genetic diseases could be further marginalized and receive less medical support.

What do you think?

Should the U.S. allow genetic modification of human babies? Why or why not? Hit Take Action to tell your reps what you think, then share your thoughts below.

—Sara E. Murphy

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / vchal)