Genetically Edited Children and Equality: Examining Heritable Genome Editing in the Light of Social Justice

by Calum MacKellar (Editor), Roberto Andorno (Editor), Matthew James (Editor)

Overview

Advances in heritable genome editing, such as with CRISPR-Cas9, promise to ensure that some possible future children with genetic disorders are not created — but at what cost to equality? If only certain kinds of people are brought into existence, do we risk undermining the very foundations of social justice?

This groundbreaking volume brings together leading philosophical, ethical and legal scholars to explore the implications of selecting future children.

Examining this urgent issue through the lens of equality, it challenges us to consider whether genetic selection of children aligns with the core principles of a fair and just society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781529249538
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	10/01/2026
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Calum MacKellar is the Director of Research of the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics in Edinburgh and a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Bioethics and Emerging Technologies at St Mary’s University.

Roberto Andorno is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law and a Research Associate in the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Zurich.

Matthew James is Associate Professor in Bioethics and Medical Law and the Director of the Centre for Bioethics and Emerging Technologies at St Mary’s University.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction - Andorno, MacKellar & James

2. The Origins of Equality - James

3. Equality in Philosophy: What makes human beings equal? - Andorno

4. Equality and the History of Eugenics - Jones

5. Equality in International Law - van Beers

6. Does a ‘life unworthy of life’ actually exist in the case of very sever genetic disability - Matthews

7. Equality, Heritable Genome Editing and the Expressivist Argument - MacKellar

8. How is personal identity perceived in the light of congenital characteristics? - Sufian

9. Could Heritable Genome Editing be used without undermining equality in particular circumstances? - Playford

10. Equality of Access to Heritable Genome Editing - Stammers

11. Heritable Genome Editing and Intergenerational Equality - Capella

12. Heritable Genome Editing in the light of the equality and the heritage of humanity - Jacobs

13. Heritable Genome Editing, Equality, and the Future of Society - Darnovsky & Hasson

14. Equality in the decisions to prohibit heritable genome editing - Hurlbut

15. Conclusion - MacKellar, Andorno & James