New Chinese Law Makes Embryonic DNA-Editing Illegal

Last updated on: May 28, 2019 at 10:21 am by Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC

New Chinese Law Makes Embryonic DNA-Editing Illegal 2019-05-28T10:21:34-04:00 Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Man made by DNA (CC0 pixabay)

The world got a lot closer to preventing genetically edited babies, at least for the near future. I worried that China would be a place where this would happen as they have the resources and are trying to become a top tier country for innovation, not just manufacturing. However, China has just clarified that at least for now they will be banning gene editing on babies.

Technode reports:

The most recent draft of China’s updated civil code includes new regulations protecting human genes in adults or embryos from experimentation that could “endanger human health or violate ethical norms.” The new law lists a person’s genes in a section of protected personality rights, and according to lawyers who spoke to Nature, anyone experimenting with human genes will be responsible for what happens to their subjects.

A few months back when Dr. He had made the first two gene edited babies, the Wall Street Journal reported:

Peers in China and abroad condemned him for manipulating life’s building blocks using a relatively untested gene-editing tool… A day later, Chinese officials declared his experiment illegal. Authorities in January detained him after an initial probe alleged he forged an approval document and acted in “pursuit of personal fame.”

This had calmed some fears but given that the illegality of the experiment seemed to be a temporary stop-gap measure, I was not so sure. Technode shows how this new law makes these more permanent:

This update to the civil code goes a step further by enshrining the protection of one’s genes as a fundamental right. While the civil code has been undergoing revisions since 2002, additions regarding genes and gene editing come at a time when countries around the world are grappling with how to ethically manage technologies like CRISPR, especially in response to biophysicist He Jiankui’s now-infamous experiment genetically modifying viable human embryos.

I think this is a good step as it keeps us for now from any experiments on tiny humans. This follows the 5-year moratorium on gene-line or embryonic cell editing proposed by scientists. We still have the danger that some small country may buck the international trend to make money of doctors and people wanting to create genetically perfect kids.

The Vatican has maintained unchanged since its ruling in Dignitatis Personae #25 in 2008 which states that gene editing is morally OK on somatic cells but we need greater assurance before we edit embryonic or germ-line (sperm & egg) cells. Current technologies are in many ways advanced but we still need to be cautious as edited the DNA of such cells can never be undone and might last till the end of time, not just that person’s life. I can see us allowing certain treatments in the field in my lifetime but a 5-year moratorium is a minimum.

Note: If you like my commentary on news, Catholicism, and bioethics, please consider donating via Patreon.

Previous Post

May 23, 2019

Bioethics Must Outpace Technology

Next Post

May 28, 2019 Why the Pro-Life & Disability Rights Movements Should Cooperate

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Autism Bioethics Book Review Business and Economics Catholic Social Teaching Culture Diocesan Life Disability Discipleship Euthanasia Family Life Genetics Global Politics History Immigration Inspiration Interview Liturgy Moral Theology My Life News Analysis Original Articles Prayer Privacy Pro-Life Science Sexual orientation or identity Social Media Sports Technology Theology Uncategorized US Politics Vatican

Select a Month March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz