Designing Our Descendants : The Promises and Perils of Genetic Modifications

by Chapman, Audrey R.

• ISBN13: 9780801872310
• ISBN10: 0801872316
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-21
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr

Summary

The Human Genome Project, discoveries in molecular biology, and new reproductive technologies have advanced our understanding of how genetic science may be used to treat persons with genetic disorders. Greater knowledge may also make possible genetic interventions to "enhance" normal human characteristics, such as height, hair or eye color, strength, or memory, as well as the transmittal of such modifications to future generations. The prospect of inheritable genetic modifications, or IGMs, whether for therapeutic or enhancement purposes, raises complex scientific, ethical, and regulatory issues. Designing Our Descendants presents twenty essays by physicians, scientists, philosophers, theologians, lawyers, and policy analysts addressing these issues from diverse perspectives. In three sections, the authors discuss the short- and long-term scientific feasibility of IGM technology; ethical and religious issues related to safety, justice, morality, reproductive rights, and enhancement; and regulatory issues including the necessity of public input and oversight and the influence of commercialization. Their goal is to open a dialogue engaging not only scholars and scientists but also government officials and concerned citizens. The authors conclude that while IGM cannot be carried out safely and responsibly on humans utilizing current methods, it is important to begin public discussion now to determine whether, and if so how, to proceed.

Author Biography

Audrey R. Chapman is director of the Science and Human Rights Program and senior associate for ethics in the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mark S. Frankel is the director of the Scientific Freedom, Responsibility, and Law Program at American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	ix
Preface	xi
PART I: Introduction
1 Framing the Issues	3	(17)
Audrey R. Chapman and Mark S. Frankel
2 Germ-Line Dancing: Definitional Considerations for Policy Makers	20	(19)
Eric Juengst and Erik Parens
PART II: Scientific Considerations
3 Approaches to Gene Transfer to the Mammalian Germ Line	39	(16)
Theodore Friedmann
4 Scientific Methodologies to Facilitate Inheritable Genetic Modifications in Humans	55	(13)
Bhavani G. Pathak
5 Germ-Line Modification in Clinical Medicine: Is There a Case for Intentional or Unintended Germ-Line Changes?	68	(9)
R. Michael Blaese
6 Gene Repair, Genomics, and Human Germ-Line Modification	77	(16)
Kenneth W. Culver
7 Germ-Line Gene Therapy: Can We Do It, Do We Need It, Where Do We Start, and Where Might It Lead?	93	(12)
Christopher H. Evans
PART III: Ethical and Religious Issues
8 The Moral Impasse in Human Embryo Research: Bypasses in the Making?	105	(25)
John Fletcher
9 The Implications of Inheritable Genetic Modifications for Justice	130	(26)
Audrey R. Chapman
10 The Hidden Eugenic Potential of Germ-Line Interventions	156	(23)
Troy Duster
11 Ethical Differences between Inheritable Genetic Modification and Embryo Selection	179	(9)
Bonnie Steinbock
12 Human Limits: Theological Perspectives on Germ-Line Modification	188	(11)
Ronald Cole-Turner
13 Germ-Line Intervention and the Moral Tradition of the Catholic Church	199	(13)
Albert Moraczewski
14 Uncountable as the Stars: Inheritable Genetic Intervention and the Human Future A Jewish Perspective	212	(26)
Laurie Zoloth
15 Parental Liberty and the Right of Access to Germ-Line Intervention: A Theological Appraisal of Parental Power	238	(14)
Sondra Wheeler
16 Inheritable Genetic Modifications: Do We Owe Them to Our Children?	252	(23)
Pilar N. Ossorio
PART IV: Policy Issues
17 National Policies to Oversee Inheritable Genetic Modifications Research	275	(21)
Julie Gage Palmer and Robert Cook-Deegan
18 Designing Tomorrow's Children: The Right to Reproduce and Oversight of Germ-Line Interventions	296	(15)
Cynthia B. Cohen
19 To Market, To Market: Effects of Commerce on Cross-Generational Genetic Change	311	(15)
Mark S. Frankel and Michele S. Garfinkel
20 Recommendations for Policy	326	(7)
Mark S. Frankel and Audrey R. Chapman
Appendix A. Consent Form for Participation in a Study of Inheritable Germ-Line Modification	333	(14)
Julie Gage Palmer
Appendix B. AAAS Report on IGM: Major Findings, Concerns, and Recommendations	347	(4)
Appendix C. IGM Project Working Group	351	(4)
Index	355