He Jiankui´s gene-editing experiment and the non-identity problem.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Level 5 by design analogy; theoretical and ethical analysis without empirical data.
PubMed 33951203 · doi:10.1111/bioe.12878
What was done
This paper presents a theoretical and bioethical analysis of He Jiankui's clinical experiment involving CRISPR-mediated human germline genetic modification that resulted in live births. The authors evaluate the case using the non-identity problem, a core framework in procreative ethics and the ethics of future generations.
What was found
The abstract reports no empirical findings, quantitative measurements, or numerical data. It outlines a conceptual argument intended to clarify the ethics of germline gene editing and support philosophically grounded legislation for CRISPR and related technologies.
Why it matters
Applying the non-identity problem to the first documented cases of human germline genome editing offers a philosophical perspective on harm, identity, and moral responsibility in reproductive bioethics.
Limits
The paper is entirely conceptual and theoretical, containing no empirical measurements, clinical data, or direct observations of the modified individuals. The abstract does not specify the particular ethical conclusions reached.
Cited by
- supports He Jiankui targeted the CCR5 gene to confer HIV resistance in the gene-edited human embryos.