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In just two decades, the science
of genetics has progressed from elucidating the genetic determinants of
phenotype to manipulating them. Its arsenal of powerful techniques already
has been turned upon ourselves. Human genetic therapy, mere science fiction
ten years ago, now boasts an NIH budget of $200 million a year and more
than five hundred approved human studies. So far only human somatic cells
have been altered, but when safe, reliable techniques to manipulate the
germline are perfected, they too will likely be applied to humans.
Some scientists still argue that human germline engineering is not feasible in the foreseeable future and need not be considered. But indications are strong that technical obstacles are being overcome, and that the potential for safely inserting one or more genes into germline cells will soon exist. The media often portrays human germline engineering as a watershed event with immense and dangerous implications, but the eventual consequences cannot be determined because the techniques and knowledge that will define the scope of future germline manipulations are still unfolding. This uncertainty deters neither champions nor opponents of the technology. Both conjure extravagant distant scenarios. Such utopian and catastrophic speculation has until now been the basis for most moral and philosophical judgements about the desirability of engineering human genomes. This is unfortunate. Human germline engineering is likely to begin with highly specific therapies rather than radical human enhancements. Our challenge today is not to sit in judgement about the distant unknowable future, but to understand whether beneficial interventions might soon be practicable. This conference is intended to assess the potential of human germline engineering in the coming two decades and to explore some of the challenges the technology may pose. Leading scientists will examine such topics as: how a program for human germline engineering might be structured; what role new in-vitro fertilization technologies might play; what ethical and safety issues need to be addressed; what the human genome project means for the technology; how germline engineering compares with alternatives such as somatic cell therapy and embryo selection; what new approaches to disease diagnosis and treatment human germline engineering may offer; what potential it holds for countering aging and other therapeutic human enhancements. |