Volume 29, Issue 163, September 2025

The Ethics of Human Genome Modification: Philosophical Perspectives, Social Justice, and Competitive Implications

Jan Bombuy Gimenez^1♦, Maja Ćwiek², Piotr Łapiński³

¹District Health Center Ltd. in Otwock, Batorego 44, 05-400 Otwock, Poland
²Independent Public Complex of Health Care Facilities in Wyszków, Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 1, 07-200 Wyszków, Poland
³Central Clinical Hospital, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Jan Bombuy Gimenez, District Health Center Ltd. in Otwock, Batorego 44, 05-400 Otwock, Poland

ABSTRACT

This article studies the ethical implications of germinal human genome modification. The need for such ethical consideration has been underscored by realworld developments, as Dr He Jiankui, who announced in 2018 the first gene-edited infants using CRISPR/Cas9 technology for germline modifications, has returned to genetic practice after his 2022 prison release. The paper traces humanity's historical pursuit of knowledge that pushed boundaries from ancient mythology through medieval alchemy to the most recent developments in genomic engineering. The study contrasts philosophical perspectives, utilitarian and transhumanist arguments in support of genetic intervention with deontological and bioconservative objections that emphasize human dignity and the moral value of genetic unpredictability. The study also looks at ethical concerns such as fair access to genetic technologies, the risk of increasing social inequalities, and the effects on human identity. It considers how genetic enhancements might shift competitive sports from celebrating natural ability to exhibits of biotechnology advancements. While acknowledging risks of fundamental transformations to human identity and social structures, the article also recognizes benefits such as health improvement, hereditary disease reduction or increased human cognitive ability. The article concludes that human genome modification represents an unprecedented technological development, which requires careful navigation to achieve a global ethical consensus between the world of medicine, ethics, and society. A consensus inspired by the 1975 Asilomar conference, to preserve therapeutic applications while establishing safeguards against potential abuses.

Keywords: Genetic modification ethics; Bioethics; Human genome modification; Genetic inequality; Genetic doping

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e195ms3681

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i163.e195ms3681

Published: 30 September 2025