Improvement of Ethical Review Mechanism for the Application of Gene Editing Technology

Gene editing technology has broad prospects in application, and wide functions and values in benefiting mankind. Though the technology is maturing with the discovery of protein cas9, the time for its full application is not mature, due to the lack of necessary ethical review, for some unforeseen harms might violate the supreme dignity of human beings and cause the risk of serious consequences such as disturbing intergenerational justice. This dilemma is closely related to the lack of special legislation, perfect system and necessary public participation in China. Therefore, as one mastering the core technology of gene editing, China needs not only to formulate special laws to further clarify the ethical review of its application, but also to pay attention to the establishment of a unified ethical review committee in the specific system. It is also necessary to regularly review the scientific and technological ethics of scientists. In addition, it is also necessary to involve the public, so as to increase the public's right to know and strengthen the social supervision of ethics in the field of science. In this way, the ethical risk of scientific and technological application can be under close control.