«DESIGNER EMBRYOS»: LEGAL AND BIOETHICAL ASPECTS
https://doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347.2017.11.3.050-058
Abstract
The article describes the developing technologies for the production of «designer embryos» also known as genetically improved babies. The authors briefly review these technologies with a special emphasis on their medical, legal and bioethical aspects. We propose and substantiate the point of view why some of these approaches may be illegal.
About the Authors
I. V. Ponkin
Institute of Public Administration and Management Civil Service, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of RF
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ponkin Igor Vladislavovich – MD (Law), Professor, State Professor.
Pr. Vernadskogo, 84, Moscow, 119606
A. A. Ponkina
Institute of State-Confessional Relations and Law
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ponkina Alexandra Alexandrovna – PhD (Law), Deputy Director, expert of the Consortium of experts on patients' rights (Moscow).
PO box 49, Moscow, 117525
References
1. Japan panel greenlights gene editing of human eggs for basic study. URL: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/22/national/science-health/japan-panelgreenlights-gene-editing-of-human-eggsfor-basic-study/#.VzmXOnr555_22.04.2016 [Accessed: 10.06.2017].
2. Ponkin I.V., Ponkina A.A. Technologies of child production from genetic material of three “parents”: legal and bioethical aspects. Stato, Chiese e pluralismo confessionale. 14 settembre. 2015; № 26.
3. Ponkin I.V., Ponkina A.A., Yeremyan V.V., Kouznetsov M.N. On legal bases for legal recognition of the value of life, human dignity, and the right to life of a child at the stage of prenatal development. Мoscow. 2015: 106 p.
4. Aznar J. Designer babies. A question of ethics. URL: http://www.observatoriobioetica.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/6.-Designerbabies_ING.pdf. Accessed: 10.06.2017.
5. Liang P., Xu Y., Zhang X. et al. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in human tripronuclear zygotes. Protein & Cell. 2015; 6 (5): 363-72.
6. Netherlands gives green light for growing human embryos. Dutch government sanctions ‘limited research’ to help infertile couples and to tackle hereditary or congenital diseases. URL: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/may/28/netherlands-givesgreen-light-for-growing-human-embryos. 28.05.2016 [Accessed: 10.06.2017].
7. Walker M. «Designer Babies» and Harm to Supernumerary Embryos. Am Phil Q. 2008; 45 (4): 349-64.
8. Stankovic B. «It’s a designer baby!» – opinions on regulation of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. UCLA JL Tech. 2005; 9 (1): 1-31.
9. The protection of the human embryo in vitro / Report by the Working Party on the Protection of the Human Embryo and Fetus of Steering committee on bioethics of the Council of Europe. Strasbourg. 2003: 44 p.
10. Steinbock B. Designer babies: choosing our children’s genes. Lancet. 2008; 372: 1294-5.
11. Turriziani J.V. Designer Babies: The Need for Regulation on the Quest For Perfection. Law School Student Scholarship. 2014; Paper № 595: 32 p.
12. Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, 04.04.1997. URL: http://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/164?_coeconventions_WAR_coeconventionsportlet_languageId=en_GB [Accessed: 10.06.2017].
13. Reich J.B., Swink D. Outsourcing Human Reproduction: Embryos & Surrogacy Services in the Cyberprocreation Era. J Health Care Law and Policy. 2011; 14 (2): 241-97.
14. Cesaroni J.L. Designer Human Embryos as a Challenge for Patent Law and Regulation. Quinnipiac Law Review. 2012; 30 (4): 1-46.
15. De Melo-Martin I., Rosenwaks Z. Searching for the perfect child. Fertil Steril. 2015; 103 (2): 342-3.
16. Savulescu J., Gyngell C., Douglas T. The Ethics of Gene Editing. URL: http://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/assets/publications/Savulescu_Gene_Editing_DRAFT.pdf [Accessed: 10.06.2017].
17. Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, 11.11.1997. URL: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13177&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html [Accessed: 10.06.2017].
18. Stanley T. Three parent babies: unethical, scary and wrong. The Telegraph. 03.02.2015.
19. Aznar J. Designer babies – Searching for the perfect child. URL: http://bioethicsobservatory.org/2015/07/designer-baby-searching-for-theperfect-child/9056. 21.07.2015 [Accessed: 10.06.2017].
20. Collins F.S. Statement on NIH funding of research using gene-editing technologies in human embryos. URL: https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/statement-nihfunding-research-using-gene-editingtechnologies-human-embryos. 28.04.2015 [Accessed: 10.06.2017].
21. Genomics and World Health (Report of the Advisory Committee on Health Research). World Health Organization. Geneva. 2002: 241 p.
22. Why are we opposed to mitochondrial donation? URL: http://www.stopgm3parentbabies.com/why-are-weopposed-to-mitochondrial-donation/[Accessed: 10.06.2017].
23. Williams N. «Designer’ babies». Curr Biol. 2004; 14 (15): R594.
Review
For citations:
Ponkin I.V., Ponkina A.A. «DESIGNER EMBRYOS»: LEGAL AND BIOETHICAL ASPECTS. Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction. 2017;11(3):50-58. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347.2017.11.3.050-058
Views:
1261
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Email this article 
