Advances in Genetic Editing of the Human Embryo

Abstract

Background: Genetic engineering has allowed a major development of research in this field, with specialists attempting to edit the human genome, after the successful editing of the genomes of plants and animals. However, human gene editing technologies are at the center of ethical debates around the world. Areas of Uncertainty: Ethical concerns about genetic editing of the human embryo raise several issues that can be viewed through the prism of optimism and reluctance leading to a number of recommendations regarding the acceptance of what may soon become a reality. Data Sources: A literature search was conducted through PubMed, MEDLINE, Plus, Scopus, and Web of Science (2015–2022) using combinations of keywords, including: human genome or gene editing plus ethics. Ethics and Therapeutic Advances: Gene therapy is seen by researchers as a way to solve congenital diseases, multifactorial diseases in general or specific diseases such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, or can increase resistance to HIV infection. Genome editing technologies, germline gene editing, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats gene editing technology, technologies such as zinc finger nucleases are not only advanced gene therapies that require solving technical problems, but also techniques that require complex and complete analysis of ethical problems. Genetic engineering raises many ethical concerns such as: safety concerns especially the risk of off-target effects; autonomy of the individual—with the limitation of the future generations to consent for an intervention over their genome; social justice—keeping in mind the costs of the procedures and their availability to the general population. Discussions can go further from questions such as “How can we do this?” to questions such as “Should we do this?” or “Is society ready to accept this technology and is it able to manage it rationally?” Conclusions: The ethics of biomedical research should be based on global dialogue, on the involvement of experts and the public, to achieve a broad social consensus. The fundamental review of the ethics of genetics is a desire and an opportunity of the current period.