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CRISPR in context: towards a socially responsible debate on embryo editing

Author

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  • Michael Morrison

    (University of Oxford)

  • Stevienna de Saille

    (The University of Sheffield)

Abstract

Following the birth in 2018 of two babies from embryos altered using CRISPR-Cas9, human germline gene editing (GGE) moved from abstract concern to reality. He Jiankui, the scientist responsible, has been roundly condemned by most scientific, legal and ethical commentators. However, opinions remain divided on whether GGE could be acceptably used in the future, and how, or if it should be prohibited entirely. The many reviews, summits, positions statements and high-level meetings that have accompanied the emergence of CRISPR technology acknowledge this, calling for greater public engagement to help reach a consensus on how to proceed. These calls are laudable but far from unproblematic. Consensus is not only hugely challenging to reach, but difficult to measure and to know when it might be achieved. Engagement is clearly desirable, but engagement strategies need to avoid the limitations of previous encounters between publics and biotechnology. Here we set CRISPR in the context of the biotechnology and fertility industries to illustrate the lessons to be learned. In particular we demonstrate the importance of avoiding a ‘deficit mode’ in which resistance is attributed to a lack of public understanding of science, addressing the separation of technical safety criteria from ethical and social matters, and ensuring the scope of the debate includes the political-economic context in which science is conducted and new products and services are brought to market. Through this history, we draw on Mary Douglas’ classic anthropological notion of ‘matter out of place’ to explain why biotechnologies evoke feelings of unease and anxiety, and recommend this as a model for rehabilitating lay apprehension about novel biological technologies as legitimate matters of concern in future engagement exercises about GGE.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Morrison & Stevienna de Saille, 2019. "CRISPR in context: towards a socially responsible debate on embryo editing," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:5:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-019-0319-5
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-019-0319-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hermann Garden & David Winickoff, 2018. "Gene editing for advanced therapies: Governance, policy and society," OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers 2018/12, OECD Publishing.
    2. David Cyranoski, 2019. "Russian biologist plans more CRISPR-edited babies," Nature, Nature, vol. 570(7760), pages 145-146, June.
    3. Les Levidow & Susan Carr, 1997. "How biotechnology regulation sets a risk/ethics boundary," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 14(1), pages 29-43, March.
    4. Laurens K Hessels & Harro van Lente & Ruud Smits, 2009. "In search of relevance: The changing contract between science and society," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 36(5), pages 387-401, June.
    5. Smits, Martijntje, 2006. "Taming monsters: The cultural domestication of new technology," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 489-504.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wendy P. Geuverink & Janneke T. Gitsels & Martina C. Cornel & Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte & Christina Prinds & Carla G. El & Linda Martin, 2024. "The impact of counselors’ values and religious beliefs on their role identity and perspectives on heritable genome editing: a qualitative interview study," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Melanie Goisauf & Kaya Akyüz & Gillian M. Martin, 2020. "Moving back to the future of big data-driven research: reflecting on the social in genomics," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Wendy Geuverink & Carla El & Martina Cornel & Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte & Janneke Gitsels & Linda Martin, 2023. "Between desire and fear: a qualitative interview study exploring the perspectives of carriers of a genetic condition on human genome editing," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.

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