PERSPECTIVE article
Front. Genome Ed.
Sec. Genome Editing in Human Health and Disease
Volume 7 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2025.1593172
Ethical Dimensions and Societal Implications: Ensuring the Social Responsibility of CRISPR Technology
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
- 2Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, United States
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CRISPR‑Cas9 is a breakthrough genome‑editing platform that can cut chosen DNA sequences with unprecedented speed, accuracy, and affordability. By reprogramming a single guide RNA, researchers now alter gene function, correct pathogenic variants, or introduce novel traits. Earlier tools such as zinc‑finger nucleases and TALENs performed similar tasks but were significantly more complex and costly. Yet CRISPR’s very power raises urgent ethical concerns: Who controls its use, and how can society prevent germ‑line enhancement, eugenic selection, or unequal access that favors wealthy nations and patients? A well‑publicized case of embryo editing already showed how premature, unregulated experiments can erode public trust. This perspective therefore frames CRISPR’s scientific promise alongside its social responsibilities, arguing that proactive, globally coordinated governance is essential to unlock benefits while preventing new forms of genetic inequality.
Keywords: CRISPR- Cas 9, gene editing, Bioethics, genetic inequality, Eugenics, global health equity, Genome regulation, ethical implications of biotechnology
Received: 13 Mar 2025; Accepted: 24 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Biswas. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Irfan Biswas, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.