Is The World Ready For Gene Editing Of Humans?

While gene editing has the potential to reduce human suffering, irresponsible use could be devastating, according to Dr Jamie Metzl, futurist and author. Glenneis Kriel reports.

- Glenneis Kriel

Dr Jamie Metzl serves on the World Health Organization’s expert advisory committee tasked with developing global standards for the governance and oversight of human genome editing.

The world’s first gene-edited human babies were born in October 2018. Dr He Jiankui, the Chinese biophysicist responsible for genetically editing the embryos, thought the feat would bring him instant renown; instead, his actions were widely condemned.

Why? Like the fictional Dr Frankenstein, He conducted most of his work in secret, lied about what he was doing, did not obtain informed consent, failed to get approval from the Independent Ethics Committee, and used a technology whose safety was as yet unproven. While this criticism was more than justified, the work was a harbinger of where our species is inevitably heading, according to Dr Jamie Metzl, technological futurist and author of Hacking Darwin. Metzl was speaking during a discussion on the ethical issues of human genome editing, hosted by the University of Cape Town’s Internal Medicine Society.

‘We need rules to optimise its advantages and reduce its risks’

Many people think that the genetic revolution is all about healthcare and reducing human suffering, which at this stage it is. The big questions for the future, however, will not only touch on the application of the technology, but also who we are and who we want to be, now that our species has developed the ability to remake life on Earth.”

Chinese biophysicist Dr He Jiankui was sentenced to three years in prison for illegally performing gene-editing on humans. Photos: suPPlied

PREVENTING DISEASE