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What ethical concerns are raised by using gene editing to alter intelligence appearance or athletic ability?
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Bioethics
A Roman bust of Hippocrates, copied from a Greek original, c. 3rd century bce; in the collection of the Antichità di Ostia, Italy.
The use of gene-editing technologies like CRISPR to enhance traits such as intelligence, physical appearance, or athletic ability raises profound ethical concerns within the field of bioethics. These interventions, particularly when applied to germline cells, risk introducing permanent, heritable changes to the human genome with consequences that remain incompletely understood.12
Key ethical concerns include:
- Moral and Philosophical Objections: Critics argue that such practices amount to "playing God" or tampering with the natural order of human development. There are concerns that these technologies could lead to "designer babies," contradicting the essence of human nature.23
- Social Inequality: A major concern is that enhancement technologies could exacerbate existing societal inequalities. If only certain individuals have access to these advancements, it may create or widen gaps in ability between enhanced and non-enhanced humans, potentially compelling others to undergo enhancement to remain competitive.4
- Eugenics and Autonomy: The prospect of selecting for "desirable" traits is often associated with eugenics. While some view these tools as a means to improve the human species, others argue that such practices threaten human diversity and autonomy.43
- Safety and Unintended Consequences: Because the long-term effects of germline editing are unknown, there is a significant risk of introducing harmful genetic errors that would be passed down to future generations.123