Prenatal gene editing for neurodevelopmental diseases: Ethical considerations.

ABSTRACT: Neurodevelopmental diseases (NDDs) are notoriously difficult to treat because clinical symptoms stem from developmental processes that begin before birth. Prenatal gene editing could fill the treatment gap for NDDs by targeting and permanently correcting the genetic variants that underlie these pathogenic developmental processes. At the same time, there is a risk of unintended edits to the fetus or the pregnant person that could result in serious adverse consequences that are difficult, if not impossible, to undo. This raises ethical concerns that make the development of prenatal gene editing especially challenging. To date, there are no frameworks for considering the steps necessary for an ethical path forward for prenatal gene editing specifically. The 60-year history of in utero therapy

SUBMITTER: Major RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11866956 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature