Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

Researchers at the Oregon Health and Sciences University have successfully created genetically-modified human embryos. Their purpose is to stop genetic abnormalities from being passed on from parents to children. This might sound good, but we should ask if this is right and whether there are dangers. Considering the fallen state of humanity, the downside is great. John Stonestreet says this is "an early step in creating a parental arms race in which people with resources scramble to create their vision of the “perfect baby,” with, potentially, the eye color, intelligence, and other traits they desire."  In other words, if this research continues, we're on the path to engineering human beings, but in doing so we cross ethical boundaries that pose even a greater threat to our humanity than bad genetics.