All in the Genes

Henry Greely inaccurately characterizes my organization, the Center for Genetics and Society, as "drawn to arguments against [inheritable human genetic enhancement] by the lure of naturalness" ["The Genetics of Fear," Issue #9].

I am not sure how Greely reached this conclusion. We explicitly ground our opposition in our commitments to social justice and equality. Procedures that produce (or claim to produce) genetically superior children for those with access to expensive technologies would all too likely exacerbate inequalities and lead to new forms of discrimination.

Greely seems enthusiastic about inheritable genetic modification, but he also recognizes that significant improvements are a long way off. He therefore dismisses proposals, such as the one offered by Jamie Metzl, for international agreements to prohibit socially undesirable human biotechnologies ["Brave New World War," Issue #8]. He disparages efforts at international regulation as "neither progressive nor wise," without mentioning that similar regulations are already in effect, and working well, in over four dozen countries. The United States should join this growing international consensus.

Greely warns ominously that regulating biotechnology "would almost certainly...