Bill Summary
This resolution calls for the establishment of international ethical standards in genome editing research. Genome editing is the process of making changes to an organism's genetic material, which has the potential to lead to new therapies and cures for diseases. However, there are concerns about the unintended effects and ethical implications of this technology, particularly in regards to using it on human embryos. The resolution references previous guidelines set by the Declaration of Helsinki, which provides ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. It also mentions recent media reports of experiments using genome-edited human embryos resulting in live births, which were deemed to have violated these ethical principles. The resolution recognizes the need for further research and public debate before allowing clinical trials of germline editing (involving the manipulation of reproductive cells) to proceed. It also acknowledges the efforts of various organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization, in addressing the ethical concerns surrounding genome editing. Ultimately, the resolution calls for global cooperation in establishing limits on the ethical use of genome-edited human embryos for clinical purposes.
Possible Impacts
1. A scientist who was planning to conduct genome editing research on human subjects may have to delay their experiments or seek permission from a regulatory body due to the ethical standards outlined in the resolution.
2. Parents considering using genome editing technologies to prevent or treat genetic diseases in their future children may be more cautious or hesitant after hearing about the potential risks and unintended effects of such procedures outlined in the resolution.
3. Patients with genetic diseases may have renewed hope for potential cures or treatments as the resolution calls for more research and deliberation on the benefits and risks of germline genome editing.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 275 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 275
Calling for international ethical standards in genome editing research.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 15, 2019
Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Reed) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Calling for international ethical standards in genome editing research.
Whereas genome editing enables scientists to make changes to the genome in
organisms by removing, adding, or replacing genetic material;
Whereas there is tremendous hope that genome editing technologies will lead to
new therapies and cures for diseases;
Whereas unintended effects during the development of new medical technologies
can stop or delay the development of successful new therapies;
Whereas pregnancies using genome-edited human embryos have not been shown to be
safe;
Whereas the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association--
(1) was first adopted in 1964;
(2) has been revised over time; and
(3) has provided guidance to the international community on ethical
principles for medical research involving human subjects;
Whereas there are media reports--
(1) of experiments carried out overseas in 2018 using genome-edited
human embryos in pregnancies;
(2) that those experiments resulted in the live birth of 2 babies;
(3) that the primary scientist responsible for those experiments
recognized that the experiments were carried out too quickly and without
necessary open dialogue with regulators, the scientific community, and the
public; and
(4) that an additional pregnancy with genome-edited human embryos is
underway;
Whereas the reported experiments in 2018 using genome-edited human embryos in
pregnancies failed to meet the standards of human research ethics called
for in the Declaration of Helsinki;
Whereas the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine has
concluded that more research and broadly inclusive public deliberation
are needed before clinical trials of germline editing of human embryos
and gametes should be permitted;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health has declared support for an
international moratorium on clinical application of germline genome
editing and is working with other Federal agencies, international
agencies, health and science organizations, patient communities, and the
public to engage in a substantive debate about the benefits and risks of
germline genome editing research;
Whereas the World Health Organization has created an expert advisory committee
on developing standards for the governance and oversight of human genome
editing;
Whereas an international commission has been convened by the National Academy of
Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society of the
United Kingdom to identify the scientific, medical, and ethical
requirements that should be considered before heritable human genome
editing should proceed; and
Whereas, as of July 2019--
(1) the use of genome-edited human embryos for reproduction is
prohibited in many countries; and
(2) no international agreement exists as to whether clinical trials
using genome-edited human embryos should proceed: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) opposes the experiments that resulted in pregnancies
using genome-edited human embryos described in November 2018
media reports;
(2) recognizes that the question of whether to proceed with
heritable genome editing touches on all of humanity;
(3) supports the international commission convened by the
National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences,
and the Royal Society of the United Kingdom to develop an
international framework regarding human germline editing; and
(4) encourages the Secretary of State to work with other
nations and international organizations, including the United
Nations and the World Health Organization, to forge an
international consensus regarding the limits of ethical
clinical use of genome-edited human embryos.
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