Sam Brownback: “Human Germline gene modification is not needed to save lives, or alleviate suffering, of existing people. Its target…”

“Human Germline gene modification is not needed to save lives, or alleviate suffering, of existing people. Its target population is "prospective people" who have not been conceived. The cultural impact of treating humans as biologically perfectible artifacts would be entirely negative. People who fall short of some technically achievable ideal would be seen as "damaged goods", while the standards for what is genetically desirable will be those of the society's economically and politically dominant groups. This will only increase prejudices and discrimination in a society where too many such prejudices already exist. There is no way to be accountable to those in future generations who are harmed or stigmatized by wrongful or unsuccessful human germline modifications of themselves or their ancestors.”