This paper explores the ethics of introducing genome-editing technologies as a new reproductive option. In particular, it focuses on whether genome editing can be considered a morally valuable alternative to preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Two arguments against the use of genome editing in reproduction are analysed, namely safety concerns and germline modification. These arguments are then contrasted with arguments in favour of genome editing, in particular with the argument of the child’s welfare and the argument of parental reproductive autonomy. In addition (...) to these two arguments, genome editing could be considered as a worthy alternative to PGD as it may not be subjected to some of the moral critiques moved against this technology. Even if these arguments offer sound reasons in favour of introducing genome editing as a new reproductive option, I conclude that these benefits should be balanced against other considerations. More specifically, I maintain that concerns regarding the equality of access to assisted reproduction and the allocation of scarce resources should be addressed prior to the adoption of genome editing as a new reproductive option. (shrink)

The United Kingdom parliament made history in 2015 when they voted to allow the use of mitochondrial replacement techniques. Mitochondrial diseases are genetically inherited and currently,...

Several objections against the morality of researching or employing mitochondrial replacement techniques have been advanced recently. In this paper, I examine three of these objections and show that they are found wanting. First I examine whether mitochondrial replacement techniques, research and clinical practice, should not be carried out because of possible harms to egg donors. Next I assess whether mitochondrial replacement techniques should be banned because they could affect the study of genealogical ancestry. Finally, I examine the claim that mitochondrial (...) replacement techniques are not transferring mitochondrial DNA but nuclear DNA, and that this should be prohibited on ethical grounds. (shrink)

Mitochondrial/nuclear transfer to avoid the transmission of serious mitochondrial disease raises complex and challenging ethical, legal and social issues. In February 2015, the United Kingdom became the first country in the world to legalize M/NT, making the heated debate surrounding this technology even more relevant. This critical interpretive review identified 95 relevant papers discussing the ELSI of M/NT, including original research articles, government-commissioned reports, editorials, letters to editors and research news. The review presents and synthesizes the arguments present in the (...) literature in relation to the most commonly raised themes: terminology; identity, relationships and parenthood; potential harm; reproductive autonomy; available alternatives; consent; impact on specific interest groups; resources; “slippery slope”; creation, use and destruction of human embryos; and beneficence. The review concludes by identifying those ELSI that are specific to M/NT and by calling for follow-up longitudinal clinical and psychosocial research in order to equip future ELSI debate with empirical evidence. (shrink)

Advances in medicine in the latter half of the twentieth century have dramatically altered human bodies, expanding choices around what we do with them and how they connect to other bodies. Nowhere is this more so than in the area of reproductive technologies. Reproductive medicine and the laws surrounding it in the UK have reconfigured traditional boundaries surrounding parenthood and the family. Yet culture and regulation surrounding RTs have combined to try to ensure that while traditional boundaries may be pushed, (...) they are reconstructed in similar ways. This paper looks at the most recent RT to be permitted in the UK, mitochondria replacement therapy. Despite controversial media headlines surrounding the technique, MRT is in fact an example of how science and regulation seek to expand models of traditional relatedness in a way that doesn’t challenge the existing order. Yet, like other RTs, while attempts are made to ensure it doesn’t push traditional boundaries too far, fissures and inconsistencies appear in law and culture, which give interesting insights into how genetics, parentage and identity are being mediated in new but familiar ways. (shrink)

Currently in the United Kingdom, anyone donating gametes has the status of an open-identity donor. This means that, at the age of 18, persons conceived with gametes donated since April 1, 2005 have a right to access certain pieces of identifying information about their donor. However, in early 2015, the UK Parliament approved new regulations that make mitochondrial donors anonymous. Both mitochondrial donation and gamete donation are similar in the basic sense that they involve the contribution of gamete materials to (...) create future persons. Given this similarity, this paper presumes that both types of donor should be treated the same and made open-identity under the law, unless there is a convincing argument for treating them differently. I argue that none of the existing arguments that have been made so far in favor of mitochondrial donor anonymity are convincing and mitochondrial donors should therefore be treated as open-identity donors under UK law. (shrink)

ZusammenfassungDer weltweit erste Mitochondrien-Transfer, auch als Erzeugung eines „Drei-Eltern-Kindes“ bezeichnet, hat 2016 eine intensive Debatte ausgelöst. Hinsichtlich des Verfahrens, das bisher nur in Großbritannien zugelassen ist, werden auch verschiedene ethische Aspekte angesprochen. Dazu gehören die Risikoabwägung, die reproduktive Selbstbestimmung und die psychosoziale Entwicklung eines Kindes, das von drei Individuen abstammt. Dabei fällt auf, dass zentrale konzeptuelle Fragen hinsichtlich des Mitochondrien-Transfers nicht geklärt sind. Ist der Mitochondrien-Transfer eine genetische Intervention in die Keimbahn? Handelt es sich bei dem Verfahren um eine medizinisch (...) indizierte Therapie oder um eine elektive Behandlung assistierter Reproduktion? Welche Konzepte von Identität und Elternschaft liegen der Auffassung eines „Drei-Eltern-Kindes“ zugrunde? Im Kontext dieser konzeptuellen Fragen muss eine ethische Analyse des Mitochondrien-Transfers durchgeführt werden. In den meisten Fällen zeigt sich allerdings, dass die ethische Analyse zu stark auf Einzelaspekte fokussiert ist, wodurch diese konzeptuellen Fragen aus dem Blick geraten. Daher verbinden wir in unserem Beitrag die ethische Analyse mit konzeptuellen Überlegungen. Dabei ist es von zentraler Bedeutung, auch die biomedizinischen Grundlagen des Verfahrens eingehend zu erörtern, um die konzeptuellen Aspekte angemessen einordnen zu können. In einem ersten Schritt erläutern wir die unterschiedlichen Verfahren des Mitochondrien-Transfers. In einem zweiten Schritt schlagen wir eine konzeptuelle Klärung der drei genannten Fragen vor. Diese konzeptuelle Klärung dient als Grundlage, um die ethischen Aspekte der reproduktiven Selbstbestimmung, Risikoabwägung sowie Elternschaft und Identitätskonzeption zu analysieren. In einem dritten Schritt fassen wir die Ergebnisse zusammen. (shrink)

UK law permits parents to use mitochondrial replacement to have genetically-related children without serious mitochondrial disease. However, long-term follow-up is required for each case. Whet...

The advantages and risks of a number of new genome modifying procedures seeking to create healthy or enhanced individuals, such as Maternal Spindle Transfer, Pronuclear Transfer, Cytoplasmic Transfer and Genome Editing, are currently being assessed from an ethical perspective, by national and international policy organizations. One important aspect being examined concerns the effects of these procedures on different kinds of identity. In other words, whether or not a procedure only modifies the qualities or properties of an existing human being, meaning (...) that merely the qualitative identity of this single individual is affected, or whether a procedure results in the creation of a new individual, meaning that a numerically distinct human being would have come into existence. In this article, the different identity arguments proposed, so far, are presented with respect to these novel reproductive procedures. An alternative view is then developed using the Origin Essentialism argument to indicate that any cha... (shrink)