Double helix of DNA biochemistry, Author brian0918™ (PD)
Editing the human genome is no longer beyond the realm of possibility. To the contrary, it represents the frontier of medicine, promising a golden future without heritable disease or genetic defects. The question is: at what cost to human rights?
Human genome editing takes two forms: somatic genome editing (which modifies non-reproductive cells) and germline genome editing (which modifies reproductive cells, including sperm and egg cells, and can be passed on to future generations) [1A].
Somatic Gene Editing
Somatic gene editing is viewed as less controversial, since it cannot be passed on. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China have all permitted clinical trials involving somatic editing to treat cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other genetic diseases [1B].
Germline Gene Editing
No country has yet approved germline genetic editing, although twins whose germline had been modified using the genetic cut-copy-paste technology known by the acronym CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) were born in China in 2018 [1C][2A].
A majority of the European Union has ratified the Oviedo Convention which prohibits heritable gene editing in humans [1D]. Germany, Canada, and Australia have adopted similar prohibitions [1E].
There is a strong possibility that these bans will eventually be lifted for therapeutic purposes, though there is no current agreement on what qualifies as “therapeutic”. There is an equal chance that access to germline genetic editing will at some point be characterized as a legal “right” [6A].
In the United States, law currently prohibits the use of federal funds on human germline gene therapy [2B]. However, there are no protocols or restrictions for human genomic engineering [2C].
Recently, a startup named Preventive was identified as attempting to engineer the first genetically modified baby outside China [3]. This is not surprising, since Do-It-Yourself CRISPR kits are actually available online [6B].
While US law prohibits experimentation on humans without their informed consent, privately funded human germline editing like this is not expressly unlawful [4]. Future embryos, of course, have no say in their own modification. FDA approval would still be required for clinical studies and marketing [2D].
The potential for financial gain is dizzying. So is the potential for abuse.
Policy Considerations
At a bare minimum, there are significant policy considerations to be resolved. These include the cost of testing, the possibility for genetic discrimination, intellectual property rights regarding artificially modified DNA, and privacy rights [5][7].
Eugenics
Beyond that is the allure of eugenics [6C]. The line between medical treatment and enhancement is easily blurred. Do we alter skin, hair, or eye color to fit some preferred model? Do we create a race of super-athletes? Super-soldiers? What about slave laborers? Or perhaps a master race to fit some new madman’s standard?
Human Dignity
“…convinced of the need to respect the human being both as an individual and as a member of the human species and recognising the importance of ensuring the dignity of the human being”
—Oviedo Convention
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Ps. 139: 14).
The Bible teaches us that man was made in God’s image (Gen. 1: 27). That connection is more than skin deep. It is spiritual, the very basis on which the dignity of man rests. No modification of bodily structure or function will alter that.
But we tamper with God’s design at our peril. The temptations for misuse are enormous. Given the track record of mankind, it is far more likely our children’s children will curse rather than bless us, if we go down this path.
—
[1A through 1E] The Regulatory Review, “Editing the Human Genome” by Gloria Lyu and Matthew Spiro, 6/1/24, https://www.theregreview.org/2024/06/01/editing-the-human-genome/.
[2A through 2D] Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker, “United States: Germline/Embryonic”, https://crispr-gene-editing-regs-tracker.geneticliteracyproject.org/united-states-embryonic-germline-gene-editing/.
[3] Futurism, “Startup Secretly Working to Gene-Hack Human Baby” by Joe Wilkins, 11/11/25, https://futurism.com/health-medicine/startup-altman-gene-hacking.
[4] Legal Clarity, “What Are the US Human Experimentation Laws?”, 7/19/25, https://legalclarity.org/what-are-the-u-s-human-experimentation-laws/.
[5] National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, “Policy Issues in Genomics”, 2/8/24, https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues.
[6A, 6B, and 6C] National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Rewriting the human genome, rewriting human rights law? Human rights, human dignity, and human germline modification in the CRISPR era” by Britta van Beers, 7/9/20, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8248990/.
[7] BioSpace, “Who’s Paying for Million-Dollar Gene Therapies?” by Karen Fischer, 6/11/24, https://www.biospace.com/who-s-paying-for-million-dollar-gene-therapies.
The Irish Charity Commission has launched an investigation into the Presbyterian Church of Ireland for significant “safeguarding” failures from 2009-2022 re: the protection of abuse victims. These included inadequate responses to disclosures, and repeated failures to report to statutory bodies. A criminal investigation is, also, underway. The church’s moderator, Rev. Trevor Gribben, has stepped down.
See, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgy4wz9d20o and https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ex32jgwlg.
Oklahoma Assemblies of God children’s minister Joe Campbell has been arrested for child abuse which is believed to have extended for decades.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse and More 
Thank you for this insightful post, Anna. Happy New Year!
I am so glad you found the post interesting, Iris. May you have a wonderful New Year!
Thank you, Anna.. ❤️ 🕊
This technology has always been apt to give me ulcers just thinking about it. Even beside the monumental moral issues you touch on, there’s always been a recurring fundamental fly in the ointment: we have a long history as people of being absolutely terrible at forecasting potential consequences. That is not a reality I’m particularly eager to apply to the building blocks of humans.
I wasn’t aware genetic editing was quite to the level that it is. I’ll remain hopeful that advancements will be useful for treating people facing diseases and health conditions, but pray we don’t leverage it for the most vain reasons. We don’t need to customize ourselves; He did just fine! Have a great week, Anna. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a happy New Year coming your way!
I fully agree, Scott. May your New Year be filled w/ all good things!
Agreed Scott. Working in industrial research and development, I can confirm that humans are rather mediocre designers with woefully limited foresight.
Just because we can do something doesn’t necessarily mean that we should.
Exactly.
This is all very interesting. Thank you!
I think my earlier comment on this post seems to have not got through, Anna. Anyway, your post is most insightful… also wishing you a Happy New Year too!
Thank you, Anna, for your enlightening article on this fascinating topic — especially the part on gene editing. I largely agree with what you present and would like to add a few reflections of my own. The concerns I see with gene editing are, in fact, much older than gene editing itself.
First, to achieve good results in the design of anything — genomes included — one must know very well what one is doing. Even in engineering, where designers have full control over systems built from the ground up, mistakes are inevitable. Many flaws become apparent only much later, requiring continuous correction and refinement. It seems unavoidable that a similar — if not greater — margin of error would exist in gene editing, which is likewise a design process carried out by people who are, by nature, fallible.
Second, gene “design” has effectively been practiced for millennia through selective partnering and breeding based on desired traits. History shows that while such efforts sometimes achieved their immediate aims, the underlying goals were often misguided, leading to long-term and occasionally devastating consequences.
Third, life — and the universe at large — is complex by design, and evolution reflects that complexity. Any attempt to intervene simplistically risks unforeseen effects over time. While eugenic ambitions and the creation of heritable modifications may prove damaging in the long run, more limited applications — such as repairing genomes damaged by radiation or environmental damage in general— could be viewed as ethically and practically more acceptable. There are gray zones in every decision making.
Very insightful.
There is so much we STILL don’t know about the functions of pieces of DNA and RNA that to go messing around with gene editing is worse than when the auto industry started rolling out self-driving vehicles and saw terrible results. AND that is SOOO much simpler than DNA! The potential unintended consequences are so horrific that no moral doctor or PhD could participate with a clear conscience. It was only recently that lots of “junk” DNA has been found to be functional. There is just too much we do not know to play God with our genome.
❤️&🙏, 🤠
https://scienceandculture.com/2025/02/michael-kent-12-discoveries-that-have-changed-the-debate-about-design/
The ethical and human rights implications of genome editing are enormous. We are living in interesting times indeed! Wishing you a happy and fulfilling 2026 Anna!
And the same to you, dear Anna! ❤
Happy new year Anna.
We are at a crossroads roads in human endeavour with both artificial intelligence and medical science – as you have revealed. The situation is exacerbated with globalisation and social media. What will become of us?
Scripture tells us that the world will grow darker (2 Tim. 3: 1-5). There will even be a falling away of those who claim to be believers (1 Tim. 4: 1). We see that already. But God remains in control, Ravishank (Eph. 1: 11). Our lives are in His hands. Nothing can befall us that He has not ordained, and will use somehow for good (Rom. 8: 28). Have no fear (Joshua 1: 9: Ps. 23; 4; Isa. 41: 10; 2 Tim. 1: 7). He is with us always (Matt. 28: 20).
Have a blessed New Year!
In God’s hands 🙏 Thank you Anna
All of this sounds eerily familiar to those who have read of the research on twins conducted by demented “doctor” Mengele of Auschwitz’s camps. To place such power to modify human genes in the hands of mortals can only invite a repeat of the atrocities of WWII.
I fear there is tragedy in our children’s future.
May you have a happy and blessed new year!
I wish you the same! ❤
“But we tamper with God’s design at our peril.” Indeed we do. Just as we have tampered with it in the use of bio-weapons to selectively cull human populations.
I am not aware of any instance where human populations have been “culled” by biologic means, Dora. Even the chemical used in Nazi gas chambers during than the Holocaust in an attempt to exterminate the Jews was Zyklon B (which is cyanide based).
As you may know, the Biological Weapons Convention bans the development and use of biological and toxic weapons like the mustard gas used in WWI. True, anthrax has been used by terrorists, and rogue nations may elect to employ evil methods.
We cannot know what the future may bring. Beware though of conspiracy theories which abound these days.
A necessary caution. But I’ve seen the long term effects of the covid vaccines and covid itself. And I understand that some people groups have been killed by covid disproportionately. At this point in my life, given what I have seen the powerful and wealthy through governmental and extra-governmental means capable of, historically and contemporaraneously, I am disinclined to dismiss them outright. Also, the increasing disparity of wealth is making a mockery of democracy as we know it today, with power concentrated more and more in the hands of the few.
Still, I am at peace knowing we can trust our God with our future for ourselves and our children.