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Welcome to 2017, where the recent technological advances have allowed people to venture their ideas into reality, that would have seemed impossible ten years ago. CRISPR/Cas 9, the gene editing tool, that has been making headlines, is one such emerging technology. Gene editing of somatic cells has been approved for clinical use for awhile now, in countries all over the world, including Canada. But amidst all the advancements, Canada has a criminal ban on genetic manipulation of embryos protected under Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) 2004. Thus the question arises, ought Canada to keep its ban on genetic manipulation of embryo? In this essay, I will argue with the help of ethical theories, why I believe it is essential for Canada, …show more content…

We are aware of the fact that, the embryo is unable to form an informed consent for itself and hence parental autonomy comes into power. Having parental autonomy does not give them the leeway, to justify their own decision about making genetic changes to the germline cells of their embryo. It is extremely crucial to know that genetic modification of germline cells, not only affects the person in whom it is being done, it is also heritable, and hence, passed onto future generations. Individuals born with genetic modifications might not consent to the editing done on them, when it is disclosed at a later age, but the editing itself will be irreversible and also be heritable. Does that seem fair to the person born with gene editing? Just because they weren’t able to give consent for themselves and had to be under parental autonomy? I would argue that it is unfair for a human being to be subjected to such manipulations, for which we are unsure of its potentially harmful consequences. Some argue that decisions determined by parents, in regards, to the germline editing of their progeny cells are their own right. They are the regulators, for what they decide to do with their own product of fertilization and interference from scientific community and healthcare professionals hinder their freedom to decide what they want for their own children. They might add that previous procedures such as, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) were only

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