The Ethics of Gene Editing

Few scientific breakthroughs have provoked as much ethical unease as precise gene editing. In principle, the technique could eradicate inherited disorders that have afflicted families for generations. The controversy intensifies, however, when edits are made to embryos rather than to individual patients. Such alterations would be passed down to future generations who never consented to them. Critics warn that the boundary between therapy and enhancement is notoriously difficult to police. If wealthy parents could purchase advantages for their children, existing inequalities might become entrenched. Proponents counter that refusing to prevent avoidable suffering is itself a morally fraught decision. What seems indisputable is that regulation has lagged considerably behind the pace of discovery. Ultimately, these questions are too consequential to be left to scientists alone.