Issues of Genetic Modification in Human Embryo and its Future Orientation

• ​Author

Kim, Han-nah, Kim, Sung-Hae, Kim, So-Yoon

• Language

Korean

• Year

2015

• Abstract

This article aims to examine clinical problems of genetic modification in human embryo and current international trend of its technologies, hoping to provide suggestion for its future orientation. In accordance with the social consensus embedded in the society that protects the dignity of life, South Korea prohibits therapeutic research and gene therapy that use human embryos and reproductive cells. Yet, a group of Chinese scientists reported having used genome editing technologies with CRISPR-Cas9 to human embryos, starting again the debates whether we could use it as research subject or not. Also, recent legislation of mitochondrial replacement technologies for therapeutic purpose in the U.K. has further emphasized the advancement of genetic engineering and its application in real clinical setting. Authors, in this article, suggest for temporary moratorium of having genetic modification in hunan embryos. For such, the international community and intergovernmental organizations such as UNESCO and WHO have to elaborate the discussions on human dignity and risk of these researches.