人胚胎基因编辑治疗的伦理分析——以CRISPR/Cas9技术为例

Clinical Ethics of Human Embryo Gene Editing Mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 Technology

以CRISPR/Cas9为代表的基因编辑技术,引发生命伦理的一系列争论。在应用该技术进行人胚胎基因编辑治疗方面,相关伦理争论集中在其对子女后代健康、人类物种多样性的影响等方面。基于情境主义视角,分析表明:(1)根据CRISPR/Cas9的短期技术缺陷,并不能否定其应用的合理性。在技术成熟稳定的前提下,可以谨慎地进行临床应用研究;(2)临床应用的复杂情境下,对风险和收益进行评估的结果可能不同,据此可以给予不同的伦理支持;(3)以医疗为目的,临床应用该技术可以改变人类的基因多样性。基于群体视角,对该疗法的拒斥有悖个体健康原则。

The gene editing technique represented by CRISPR/Cas9 raises a series of debates about bioethics. As for the application of gene editing in human embryonic therapy, there are several major topics： health benefits and risks, influence on diversity of the human species, etc. From a situational perspective, the analysis shows these results： 1） Technically, the objection to the application of CRISPR/Cas9 is unreasonable with temporary technical defects, such as ＂off-target cuts＂. With gene editing technology maturing, clinical application should be studied carefully. 2） On the basis of the clinical application research, the risk and benefit could be evaluated, and then get different ethical support. 3） With medical purposes, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 may change human genetic diversity. There is a fundamental conflict between individual medical standards and the ethical standards of human groups