Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 22 October 1993:
Vol. 262. no. 5133, pp. 533 - 538
DOI: 10.1126/science.8211180
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Science, Vol 262, Issue 5133, 533-538
Copyright © 1993 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Germ-line gene modification and disease prevention: some medical and ethical perspectives

NA Wivel and L Walters

Office of Recombinant DNA Activities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

There has been considerable debate about the ethics of human germ-line gene modification. As a result of recent advances in the micromanipulation of embryos and the laboratory development of transgenic mice, a lively discussion has begun concerning both the technical feasibility and the ethical acceptability of human germ-line modification for the prevention of serious disease. This article summarizes some of the recent research on germ-line gene modification in animal models. Certain monogenic deficiency diseases that ultimately might be candidates for correction by germ-line intervention are identified. Several of the most frequently considered ethical issues relative to human germ-line gene modification are considered in the context of professional ethics, parental responsibility, and public policy. Finally, it is suggested that there is merit in continuing the discussion about human germ-line intervention, so that this technique can be carefully compared with alternative strategies for preventing genetic disease.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Endocrine Aspects of Cancer Gene Therapy.
L. Barzon, M. Boscaro, and G. Palu (2004)
Endocr. Rev. 25, 1-44
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genetic Privacy.
L. O. Gostin (1995)
J. Law Med. Ethics 23, 320-330
   PDF »
Transfer of Genes to Humans: Early Lessons and Obstacles to Success.
R. G. Crystal (1995)
Science 270, 404-410
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)