Engineering the Human Germline: An Exploration of the Science and Ethics of Altering the Genes We Pass to Our Children

186 Pages·2000·8.36 MB·English

by  Gregory Stock

Engineering the Human Germline
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Engineering the
Human Germline
An Exploration of the Science and
Ethics of Altering the Genes
We Pass to Our Children
EDITED BY
GREGORY STOCK AND
JOHN CAMPBELL
New York Oxford
Oxford University Press
2000
Oxford University Press
Oxford New York
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Copyright © 2000 by Gregory Stock and John Campbell
Published by Oxford University Press, Inc.
198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior permission of Oxford University Press.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Engineering the Human Germline : an exploration of the science and
ethics of altering the genes we pass to our children / edited by
Gregory Stock and John Campbell.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-.19-513302-1
1. Medical genetics. 2. Medical genetics—Moral and ethical
aspects. 3. Genetic engineering. 4. Genetic engineering—Moral and
ethical aspects. 5. Human cloning. 6. Human cloning—Moral and
ethical aspects. I. Stock, Gregory. II. Campbell, John H. (John
Howland), 1938- .
RB155.E56 1999
174'.2S—dc21 99-15224
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
Preface
Germline genetic manipulations are those made to "germinal"
or reproductive cells—the egg or sperm—and they can alter both the
immediate patient and his or her descendants. This is a major extension of
today's genetic therapies and, until recently, most ethicists and scientists
have found the idea of allowing such interventions in humans virtually
unthinkable. But technology has now advanced to the point where the
unthinkable needs to be carefully examined.
This book explores both the prospects for, and the larger implications
of, human germline engineering. The book's three sections come at these
issues in very different ways. In part I, seven leading scientists lay a solid
groundwork by assessing the realistic possibilities and problems of this
technology. Too often when genetic engineering is portrayed in the popu-
lar media, no distinction is made between fantasy and reality, but the is-
sues surrounding human germline engineering cannot be intelligently
debated without a solid grasp of the scientific realities of the technology.
These seven essays—each prepared for an audience of nonspecialists—
offer us that grasp. Gregory Stock and John Campbell, coeditors of this
volume, begin with a vision for practical germline engineering. Leroy Hood,
a key figure in the human genome project, describes the relevance of our
rapidly expanding understanding of human genetics. Daniel Koshland,
editor of Science magazine for more than a decade, offers his perspective
on issues of safety and ethics. Mario Capecchi, a leading researcher who
manipulates the genetics of mice, describes how germline engineering
might take place in practice. French Anderson, the father of human gene
therapy, lays out his misgivings about near-term use of germline technolo-
gies. Michael Rose, an expert in aging research, discusses the feasibility of
eventually retarding the aging process. And Lee Silver, an architect of the
reprogenetic vision, describes the tight linkages between germline genetic
engineering and advanced in vitro fertilization technologies.
Part II is a looser look at the implications of germline engineering, a
lively discussion in which the seven scientists from part I are joined by an
ethicist, a public policy expert, and Nobel-laureate James Watson, codis-
coverer of the structure of DNA and founder of the human genome proj-
ect. Words are not minced in this extraordinary conversation that opens
revealing windows into the issues surrounding the technology of germ-
line engineering as well as the personalities and attitudes of key figures
shaping the debate.
Part III—"Other Voices"—takes a broader perspective, through a diverse
collection of short essays by scientists, ethicists, lawyers, theologians, and
public-policy makers from both the United States and abroad who have
thought deeply about these issues and contributed to discussion of them.
Together, these essays show the breadth of opinion about the arrival of
these genetic technologies looming at our doorstep. Each contributor was
asked a specific question, either his or her concerns about widespread use
of this technology, or his or her attitude about germline engineering were
it ever shown to be safe and reliable. These thought-provoking responses
are nuanced by their response to an additional and very personal question
that each of us may one day face—"Would you be willing to genetically al-
ter your own child-to-be, given a safe reliable technology offering a tempt-
ing possibility?" Their views may help us prepare for that day.
Many people were critical to the creation of this volume. Above all, we
would like to thank the speakers at the "Engineering the Human Germ-
line" symposium at UCLA in March 1998. Without the willingness of
French Anderson, Andrea Bonnicksen, Mario Capecchi, John Fletcher,
Leroy Hood, Daniel Koshland, Michael Rose, Lee Silver, and James Watson
to speak publicly and forthrightly about this difficult and challenging
topic, our volume could never have been produced. At present, there is
considerable discussion of the challenges of human germline engineering
in both scientific circles and the popular media. At the time of that con-
ference, however, the climate contained much paranoia about frankly dis-
cussing these topics. Indeed, we were even warned that disruptions or
demonstrations might well accompany the event. Thus, the speakers'
courage in leading the way toward opening up this topic to reasonable dis-
cussion can only be applauded.
The book would also not have been possible without the help and support
of a number of others. The funders of the symposium—William Stubing
from the Greenwall Foundation and Doron Weber from the Alfred P. Sloan
vi Preface
Foundation—were not only generous in their support; they took a per-
sonal interest in the project, which was of tremendous value. Their desire
to foster increased public dialogue and awareness of the emerging tech-
nology of human germline engineering was instrumental in supporting
our work. Professor William Schopf provided critical assistance in many
ways, but above all we would like to thank him for his faith in the project
and his willingness to put the resources of the Center for the Study of Evo-
lution and the Origin of Life at our disposal. The role of Donald Ponturo,
the Special Projects Manager of the Program on Medicine, Technology,
and Society, cannot be overstated. Not only was he intimately involved in
coordinating the symposium and making it a success—he played a major
role in editing and organizing this manuscript. Without him, the book could
never have happened.
The support of the UCLA administration was also important, and we
wish to acknowledge in particular the role of Vice-Chancellor Patel,
Provosts Jerry Levey and Brian Copenhaver, and Dean Lenny Rome, who
threw the weight of UCLA behind this effort and helped make it a success.
Finally, we wish to thank our agent, Joe Spieler, for his ongoing counsel
and support in bringing this book into its current form, and our editor, Kirk
Jensen, for his guidance and commitment to making this book all that it
could be.
Los Angeles, Californiaa G.S.
March 1989 9 ].C.
Preface vii
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Contents
Contributors xi
Introduction: An Evolutionary Perspective 3
I THE REALITIES OF HUMAN GERMLINE ENGINEERING
A Vision for Practical Human Germline Engineering 9
John Campbell and Gregory Stock
The Human Genome Project—Launch Pad for
Human Genetic Engineering 17
Leroy Hood
Ethics and Safety 25
Daniel Koshland, Jr.
Human Germline Gene Therapy: How and Why 31
Mario R. Capecchi
A New Front in the Battle against Disease 43
W. French Anderson
Aging as a Target for Genetic Engineering 49
Michael R. Rose
Reprogenetics: How Reproductive and Genetic
Technologies Will Be Combined to Provide
New Opportunities for People to Reach Their
Reproductive Goals 5 7
Lee M. Silver