Genome Editing - Research and Reproduction

• Author: Maureen McTeer
• Pages: 149-155

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– chapter fourteen –

Genome Editing —

Research and Reproduction

INTRODUCTION

Science in the eld of human genome editing has moved forward signi-

cantly during the past decade, which has raised serious and controversial

questions about its purpose and limits. While Canadians might approve

of research that leads to clinical treatments and even cures for serious and

fatal genetic conditions, there is no consensus on its use for enhancing the

human body. Nor has there been any signicant public or Parliamentary

discussion and debate about heritable human genome editing, which

would allow for changes in the germline of one person to be passed on

to their future progeny. One scholar has described it this way:

Heritable genome editing involves the transfer of genetically modied

embryos to a uterus to initiate a pregnancy that would result in the

birth of a child with a modied genome. Like heritable genome editing,

germline genome editing also involves making genetic modications to

gamete precursor cells, eggs, sperm, or early-stage embryos in the labora-

tory; unlike heritable human genome editing, any resulting genetically

modied embryos are not used for reproduction.

It is this reproductive step following the genetic editing of the human

genome that has been the most serious cause of controversy.