HUMAN GERMLINE EDITING Germline gene editing and the precautionary principle

The precautionary principle aims to influence decision‐making in contexts where some activity poses uncertain but potentially grave threats. This perfectly describes the con‐ troversy surrounding germline gene editing. This article considers whether the pre‐ cautionary principle should influence how we weigh the risks and benefits of human germline interventions, focusing especially on the possible threats to the health of future generations. We distinguish between several existing forms of the precautionary prin‐ ciple, assess their plausibility and consider their implications for the ethics of germline modification. We also offer a novel form of the precautionary principle: the sufficien‐ tarian precautionary principle. Some plausible versions of the precautionary principle recommend placing somewhat greater weight on avoiding

[1]  J. Savulescu,et al.  Germline gene editing and the precautionary principle , 2019, Bioethics.

[2]  J. Herington.  Health Security and Risk Aversion , 2016, Bioethics.

[3]  E. Persson.  What are the core ideas behind the Precautionary Principle? , 2016, The Science of the total environment.

[4]  Feng Zhang,et al.  CRISPR germline engineering—the community speaks , 2015, Nature Biotechnology.

[5]  Jennifer A. Doudna,et al.  A prudent path forward for genomic engineering and germline gene modification , 2015, Science.

[6]  E. Lanphier,et al.  Don’t edit the human germ line , 2015, Nature.

[7]  M. Selgelid,et al.  On the Dual Uses of Science and Ethics: Principles, Practices, and Prospects , 2013 .

[8]  M. Selgelid.  Biodefense and dual-use research: the optimisation problem and the value of security , 2012, Journal of Medical Ethics.

[9]  J. Savulescu,et al.  Procreative beneficence and in vitro gametogenesis , 2012, Monash bioethics review.

[10]  Liam Shields.  The Prospects for Sufficientarianism , 2012, Utilitas.

[11]  Stephen M. Gardiner,et al.  A Core Precautionary Principle , 2006 .

[12]  J. Savulescu.  How do we choose which life to save? Equality of access or a fair go? , 2002 .

[13]  Sven Ove Hansson,et al.  Five charges against the precautionary principle , 2002 .

[14]  Neil A. Manson.  Formulating the Precautionary Principle , 2002 .

[15]  B. Gremmen,et al.  Between Precautionary Principle and “Sound Science”: Distributing the Burdens of Proof , 2002 .

[16]  S. Hansson.  The Limits of Precaution , 1997 .

[17]  Sven Ove Hansson,et al.  Decision Making Under Great Uncertainty , 1996 .

[18]  M. A. O. Ignacio,et al.  How to cite this article , 2016 .

[19]  S. Clarke.  The Precautionary Principle and the Dual Use Dilemma , 2013 .

[20]  A. Lobb.  Risk and Precaution , 2012 .

[21]  John Harris,et al.  Extending human lifespan and the precautionary paradox. , 2002, The Journal of medicine and philosophy.

[22]  George J Annas,et al.  Protecting the endangered human: toward an international treaty prohibiting cloning and inheritable alterations. , 2002, American journal of law & medicine.