Is It All About Revising, Correcting, and Transferring Genes?
Abstract
Bryan Cwik introduces a framework consisting of four categories (target, goal, outcome, and mechanics) to help differentiate between the many existing genetic germline interventions. This is because “not all germline gene editing is the same” and “there are substantial enough variances between different techniques and types of intervention to require a more nuanced categorization schema, and so a more nuanced map of the ethics of gene editing.” (Cwik 2020, 10) However, the question arises whether Cwik’s approach leads to a sufficient map of ethical issues with regard to gene editing (especially germline editing). We think that Cwik’s framework is a good starting point, but should be supplemented. We try to show that by focusing only on his four categories, not all the important aspects and information for ethical assessment can be determined. Referring to Max Weber’s theory of rationalization, we demonstrate that Cwik’s model is permeated by thinking from the perspective of risks and benefits in a medical context. This can lead to blind spots in mapping ethical issues concerning germline interventions. Imagine a therapeutic germline intervention for which no alternatives exist. The target is a wellknown pathogenic gene, the goal is to avoid a welldefined disease; the outcome is a healthy human, and the mechanics do not imply the use of genetic material from a third party. From a medical point of view, this description might suffice; however, this is not ethically sound. For…
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