CRISPR Crossroads: Law, Ethics, and the Future of Humanity

Abstract

The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has opened a new frontier of gene editing capabilities that let scientists easily alter human DNA with incredible precision. It is being hailed as a groundbreaking breakthrough that will transform medicine, representing a future for the treatment of crippling genetic diseases. but as we explore this new-genetic frontier, we run into legal and ethical complications that our existing regulatory structures can barely accommodate.
We explore the complex landscape of legal challenges regarding human genome editing, with particular interest in the contentious issues of genetic enhancements and designer babies. Through four nations, we investigate the varied ways countries dip their toes into this new, unregulated pool — from the bones of aggressive European regulators to the expansive sprint stalls in some Asian nations. This international variation of regulation leaves open the door for genetic tourism and inequity in access to these technologies and is problematic.
This approach has global implications, and the migratory patterns of many highly intelligent beings and subgroups across planet Earth have profound effects on how these beings are categorized. As scientists acquire the means to engineer genes underlying physical and cognitive traits, the distinction between medical necessity and optional enhancement will become ever more blurred. This ambiguity creates difficulties for policymakers and ethicists alike. At the heart of our analysis, we explore consent and generational rights. But how do we protect the rights of the unborn with genetic modifications that can be passed on to subsequent children? At the same time, we explore different regulatory models and suggest regulatory frameworks that would allow balancing scientific progress with ethical and human rights perspectives.
We identify areas that need the attention of the global legal community based on an in-depth analysis of current legislation, international guidelines, and new emerging approaches to regulation. Our results show a need for adaptive regulatory mechanisms that evolve in concert with technological change and that robust ethical safeguards remain. This paper contributes to the dialogue regarding how society can leverage the transformative potential of gene editing while protecting fundamental human values and preventing the emergence of genetic inequality.