For Now, At Least, Genetically Engineered Babies Are Likely To Remain The Stuff Of Science Fiction

Evoking thoughts of Gattaca, the 1997 film in which genetic engineering is used to make new and supposedly improved people, an eagerly anticipated report out Tuesday stopped short of recommending a ban on tweaking the genes of human eggs, sperm or embryos. The report, from the influential National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), concluded that clinical trials of genome "editing" of the human germline--cells that can be passed from one generation to the next--could one day be permitted, but only for serious inherited conditions and under stringent oversight. "Genome editing has great promise for preventing, ameliorating or eliminating many human diseases and conditions," the report concluded. "Along with this promise comes the need for ethically responsible research and clinical use." While germline genome editing to eliminate inherited diseases might seem like a worthy goal, critics say it could lead to attempts to make healthy babies even healthier, not to mention smarter, more athletic and more attractive.