Beyond Nature? Genomic Modification and the Future of Humanity
Law and Contemporary Problems, Vol. 81, 2018
Virginia Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper No. 2018-48
21 Pages Posted: 23 Aug 2018 Last revised: 28 Nov 2018
Julia D. Mahoney
University of Virginia School of Law
Gil Siegal
University of Virginia School of Law; Kiryat Ono College, Israel
Date Written: August 20, 2018
Abstract
Recent breakthroughs have moved heritable human genetic modification from the realm of science fiction to the cusp of reality, lending urgency to questions regarding how and for what purposes new technologies will be deployed. This article rejects the conventional view that modifying the human genome in ways that promise to extend to later generations poses such grave dangers that efforts to do so should be undertaken--if at all--with extreme caution. Although heritable human genetic modification entails risks, both present and future generations will likely be better served by the aggressive pursuit of further advances. This article also explains how the ease of use of novel interventions such as CRISPR to modify the human genome--what we term "genomic moonshining"--are eroding the ability of government regulators, professional organizations and others to control the creation and dissemination of knowledge.
Keywords: genetics, genome, nature, eugenics, biomedical, bioethics, innovation, inequality, regulation, nonprofit, technology, knowledge, CRISPR
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Julia D. Mahoney (Contact Author)
University of Virginia School of Law ( email )
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States
434-924-3942 (Phone)
Gil Siegal
University of Virginia School of Law ( email )
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States
434-243-8541 (Phone)
434-924-3517 (Fax)
HOME PAGE: www.law.virginia.edu/fac/gs6x
Kiryat Ono College, Israel ( email )
104 Zahal St.
Kiryat Ono, 55000
Israel
972-3-50-380-4420 (Phone)
972-3-530-3960 (Fax)
Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?
Related eJournals
-
University of Virginia Public Law & Legal Theory Research Paper Series
University of Virginia Public Law & Legal Theory Research Paper Series
Subscribe to this free journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS3,490PAPERS1,354This Journal is curated by:Michael D. Gilbert at University of Virginia School of Law -
Intellectual Property: Other eJournal
Intellectual Property: Other eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS964PAPERS5,052This Journal is curated by:Robert P. Merges at University of California, Berkeley - School of Law -
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) eJournal
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS824PAPERS13,231This Journal is curated by:Timothy M. Devinney at The University of Manchester - Alliance Manchester Business School -
Law & Society: Family Law, Relations & Dispute Resolution eJournal
Law & Society: Family Law, Relations & Dispute Resolution eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS750PAPERS7,473This Journal is curated by:Amy G. Applegate at Indiana University Maurer School of Law -
Health Care Law & Policy eJournal
Health Care Law & Policy eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS735PAPERS8,193This Journal is curated by:Erin C. Fuse Brown at Georgia State University College of Law , Jaime S. King at Faculty of Law, The University of Auckland -
Law & Society: Private Law - Family Law eJournal
Law & Society: Private Law - Family Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS719PAPERS3,908This Journal is curated by:Steve Sanders at Indiana University Maurer School of Law -
Social Innovation eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS666PAPERS920This Journal is curated by:Timothy M. Devinney at The University of Manchester - Alliance Manchester Business School -
Human Rights & the Global Economy eJournal
Human Rights & the Global Economy eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS619PAPERS10,431This Journal is curated by:Wendy E. Parmet at Northeastern University - School of Law, Martha F. Davis at Northeastern University - School of Law -
Sustainable Technology eJournal
Sustainable Technology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS606PAPERS9,839 -
Law & Culture eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS596PAPERS8,708This Journal is curated by:Reva Siegel at Yale University - Law School -
Sustainability at Work eJournal
Sustainability at Work eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS565PAPERS7,621 -
Environmental Law & Policy eJournal
Environmental Law & Policy eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS374PAPERS9,018This Journal is curated by:Holly Doremus at University of California, Berkeley - School of Law, Peter S. Menell at UC Berkeley School of Law -
Biology & Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS322PAPERS3,111 -
Biology & Anthropology eJournal
Biology & Anthropology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS318PAPERS2,800 -
Environmental Justice & Sustainability eJournal
Environmental Justice & Sustainability eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS267PAPERS3,831 -
Innovation Law & Policy eJournal
Innovation Law & Policy eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS260PAPERS29,374 -
Biology & Sustainability eJournal
Biology & Sustainability eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS201PAPERS4,820 -
Biotechnology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS177PAPERS4,877 -
Genetics eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS143PAPERS6,387 -
Anthropology of Science & Technology Studies eJournal
Anthropology of Science & Technology Studies eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS16PAPERS3,554 -
Human Rights eJournal
Subscribe to this free journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS5PAPERS29,659