Conclusion

Evolved Eugenics and Reinforcement of “Othering”: Renewed Ethico-Legal Perspectives of Genome Editing in Reproduction

“…In an earlier piece of work [ 7 ] (p. 285), this author juggled arguments that straddled Mill’s concept of liberty [ 14 ] (as applied to children) and the natural dénouement in determining the welfare of a child as being exercised by parents. Such position is that if we align with J.S.…”

“…In “normal” circumstances of child-rearing, it is challenging enough to demonstrate the development of independence in children and future generations. In matters concerning reproductive technologies and the exercise of reproductive autonomy, for instance, over the use of a preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) [ 7 ], it is more complicated. If reproductive autonomy is equated to parental guidance towards a certain future plan for a child, how does one determine if this is a result of natural parenting or might be a hindrance to autonomy [ 16 ] (p. 303)?…”

“…While it is easy to recognize that autonomy is needed for certain decisions, it is harder to understand its broad range in various aspects of daily life, particularly when it comes to children or future generations. Its importance is often elevated to a “supreme status”, which can shut down opposing views [ 7 ].…”

“…While PGD is becoming more popular across the globe, it is noted that it is subject to varying levels of regulation and sometimes no regulation at all in some countries. Science and technology advancements, such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools, are expected to further alter the landscape of medical and scientific treatments in the near future [ 7 ] (p. 86). It is noted that if the genome editing of embryos is a future viable option (where unhealthy embryos could potentially be fixed using technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9), it will need to be conducted alongside PGD.…”

“…In 2020, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna “for the development of a method of genome editing” [ 5 ], a revolutionary innovation known as CRISPR/Cas9 [ 6 ]. CRISPR/Cas9 is a genome editing tool that allows scientists to “edit the human genome with unprecedented precision, efficiency and flexibility” [ 7 ]. Although CRISPR had been hailed as a ground-breaking invention that could potentially transform the future of humankind by curing genetic and heritable diseases, an international scientific community at the International Summit on Human Gene Editing in Washington DC [ 8 ] in 2015 agreed that a global moratorium be imposed on human germ-line (heritable) gene editing.…”