Rapid breakthroughs in genetic research, advances in molecular biology, and new reproductive technologies are enhancing our understanding of and responses to genetically inherited diseases.  Among those advances is the possibility of modifying human genes through germline interventions.  Such techniques alter the genetic makeup of the reproductive cells, thereby promising to eliminate the inheritance of some genetically based diseases.  This type of intervention also allows for the possibility of going beyond therapeutic purposes to “enhance” human characteristics, such as height or intelligence. 

Opportunities for thoughtful and deliberate reflection on developments in biomedicine before they are upon us are rare.  Typically, we are in a “reactionary mode,” scrambling to match our values and policy to the events around us.  But with human germline interventions,  we have the chance to think and plan ahead, to give direction to this technology through rigorous analysis and dialogue.  The Forum on Human Germline Interventions , organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), convened a multi-disciplinary group of scientists, ethicists, and theologians to participate in discussions regarding scientific freedom and responsibility issues; the history and status of religious involvement; ethical and theological issues; therapeutic vs. enhancement applications; and setting policy and developing guidelines on human germline research and applications.   The conversations and presentations examined the feasibility of various kinds of human germline applications, the risks involved, the appropriate scope and limits of germline research, consent issues, and the social, ethical, and theological implications of the technology. 

 

	Program
	September 24
9:00-9:15	Welcome and Opening Remarks
	Albert H. Teich, Ph.D.  Directorate for Science and Policy Programs, AAAS
9:15-10:15	Scientific Overview
	Theodore Friedmann, M.D.  University of California, San Diego
10:15-11:15	Clinical Overview
	Malcolm Brenner, M.D.  St. Jude's Hospital, Memphis
11:15-11:30	Break
11:30-1:00	Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Issues
	Chair:
	Mark S. Frankel, Ph.D.  AAAS
	Panelists:
	Pilar Ossorio, Ph.D., J.D.  American Medical Association
	Malcolm Brenner, M.D.  St. Jude's Hospital, Memphis
	Cynthia Cohen, Ph.D., J.D.  Georgetown University
	Lee Silver, Ph.D.  Princeton University
1:00-2:30	Lunch
2:30-3:00	Presentation on the History and Status of Religious Involvement
	Chair:
	David Byers, Ph.D.  U.S. Catholic Conference
	Roger Shinn, Ph.D.  Union Theological Seminary,  Columbia University
3:00-5:00	Ethical and Theological Issues
	Chair:
	Audrey R. Chapman, Ph.D.  AAAS
	Panelists:
	Moshe Tendler, Ph.D.  Yeshiva University, New York
	Abdulaziz Sachedina, Ph.D.  University of Virginia, Charlottesville
	Ronald Cole-Turner, Ph.D.  Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
	Albert Moraczewski, Ph.D.  Pope John XXIII Medical-Moral Research and Education Center
	Rebekah Miles, Ph.D.  Texas Christian University
5:00-6:30	Dinner
6:30-8:30	Therapeutic vs. Enhancement Applications
	Chair:
	Jaydee Hanson  United Methodist Church
	Eric Juengst, Ph.D.  Case Western Reserve University
	Respondents:
	Erik Parens, Ph.D.  The Hastings Center
	Robert Murray, M.D.  Howard University
	September 25
9:00-12:00	Setting Policy and Developing Guidelines on Human Germline Research and Implications
	Chair:
	Alan Schechter, M.D.  National Institutes of Health
	Thomas Murray, Ph.D.  Case Western Reserve University
	Claudia Mickelson, Ph.D.  NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee
	Respondents:
	Theodore Friedmann, M.D.  University of California, San Diego
	Gladys White, Ph.D.  National Advisory Board on Ethics and Reproduction

The Directorate for Science and Policy Programs hosts the two programs that organized the forum.  The Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program is responsible for the Association's activities related to ethics and law, while the Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion Program promotes opportunities for dialogues between the scientific and religious communities on the ethical and religious implications of science and technology. 

The Forum on Human Germline Interventions was supported by the AAAS and the John Templeton Foundation. 

The complete AAAS report is available here in PDF format.