Gene Editing

For some members of the EGE, human germline gene modification for reproductive purposes cannot be ethically justified; they therefore call for upholding the prohibition that reflects, among others, Art. 3 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights; because of the blurring lines between basic and applied research, some also call for a moratorium on any basic research involving human germline gene modification until the regulatory framework is adjusted to the new possibilities. For other members of the EGE, there may be positions worth considering which would justify continued research. As is the case in the scientific community at large, diverse views are represented in the group. We call for a broad public debate on these issues and are convinced that the EGE will make a useful contribution to these deliberations. In view of the above considerations, we urge the European Commission to request that the EGE succeeding the current group, as a matter of priority, consider the inextricably linked ethical, scientific and regulatory issues pertaining to germline and somatic cell gene modification.