BIOETHICS, HUMAN GENOME AND HUMAN RIGHTS: ETHICAL AND LEGAL CHALLENGES IN GENETIC MANIPULATION

Abstract

Genetic editing of human beings, especially in the context of creating “designer babies,” has generated intense ethical and social debates, with profound implications for human rights and social justice. Technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 offer the promise of curing genetic diseases, but also raise concerns about the creation of a eugenic society, in which genetic modification of embryos could accentuate inequalities and generate genetic discrimination. This article analyzes the main legal and ethical challenges involving genetic manipulation, focusing on the Brazilian reality, where the legislation is not yet fully prepared to deal with the implications of this technology. In the end, we seek to reflect on the urgent need for clear regulatory frameworks and the importance of an ethical debate on the limits of genetic intervention in humans.