[Campbell Biology P.484] The text highlights several ethical debates surrounding gene therap... | Practice Question

The text highlights several ethical debates surrounding gene therapy and gene editing. Which of the following statements accurately captures a key distinction or consensus point regarding these ethical considerations?

  • A: Critics of gene therapy generally view transplanting genes into somatic cells as equally unethical as engineering human germ-line cells.
  • B: The biological community has reached a consensus that experimental work on human eggs and embryos is ethically permissible under strict regulation.
  • C: While some observers see no fundamental difference between somatic gene therapy and organ transplantation, engineering human germ-line cells poses an "even more pressing question" due to its implications for future generations.
  • D: Technical problems, such as off-target effects, are the sole reason for ethical concerns regarding CRISPR-Cas9, with no broader moral debates.

Explanation

The text differentiates the ethical views by stating, 'Other observers see no fundamental difference between transplanting genes into somatic cells and transplanting organs,' but then immediately follows with, 'An even more pressing question is the issue of engineering human germ-line cells to try to correct a defect in future generations,' clearly indicating a higher level of ethical concern for germ-line editing due to its heritable impact.