The Government seem more interested in our genes than our voices

This is a pivotal time for the future of human genetic technologies. New gene editing techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 suggest that any limits to the uses of genetic engineering will not be due to the technology itself, but to political decisions. Given that the application of such technologies is a matter of choice, public debate about the acceptability of these practices has to rise to the occasion.

Last year, in an attempt to build consensus for the regulation of these techniques, pioneers in the field of genetic engineering called for a moratorium on human germ-line editing. The scientists argued that genetic interventions on eggs, sperm, or early embryos posed substantial risks to future generations. It was noted that even just accepting the therapeutic use of genetic engineering to fix ‘faulty’ genes could pave the way for non-therapeutic genetic enhancement and designer babies.

Unfortunately, ethical and social concerns have not held much sway over recent biosciences policy in the UK. Despite a lack of consensus about its acceptability, the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority recently approved the use...