Human Germline Interventions–Think First

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Recent studies using gene editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 have shown an enormously broad spectrum of possible future applications. This genetic engineering technique allows researchers to easily disable, insert, or replace DNA fragments, while raising risks such as incomplete or inaccurate editing, off-target mutations, and other unintended consequences. Whereas there is consensus that possible future uses in somatic cells hold enormous promise in clinical contexts, human germline interventions, i.e., the genetic modification of human gametes or embryos, are highly controversial (Baltimore et al., 2015; Lander, 2015; Lanphier et al., 2015; Miller, 2015; Pollack, 2015; Savulescu et al., 2015).