Crossing the Germline Barrier: The Three Genome Baby

The moral boundary separating somatic cell genetic modification and germline genetic modification has been in effect for over 30 years. Recently, with the introduction of nuclear DNA transplantation and gene editing, and with the rising interest in preventing the transfer of certain deleterious genes to newborns, that moral boundary has been called into question. The paper discusses the origins of the somatic cell and germline moral distinction and explores new initiatives to undertake genetic modification of gametes or embryos.