EMBL Forum Science and Society Seminar: Tim Lewens - Blurring the Germline

Blurring the germline - From genome editing to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance
Tim Lewens, University of Cambridge (7 February 2019)

Until now, bioethical discussion of germline interventions has focused more or less exclusively on changes to the genome. But sperm, eggs and embryos are made up of more than genes, and there are indications that changes to non-genetic structures in these elements of the germline can also be inherited. It is, therefore, a mistake to treat phrases like "germline inheritance" and "genetic inheritance" as simple synonyms.

Moreover, additional research on non-genetic inheritance draws attention to a wide variety of means whereby adults can transmit traits to their offspring that bypass the germline altogether. How, then, should bioethical discussion be updated to take account of these forms of non-genetic inheritance?

Tim Lewens argues that research on various forms of non-DNA-sequence-based inheritance undermines the notion that there is some special form of ethical concern that falls on germline interventions in general, and on interventions to the nuclear genome within the germline in particular.

Established in 1998, the principal aim of the Science and Society initiative at EMBL is to promote a better and broader understanding of the growing social and cultural relevance of the life sciences. We invite speakers – experts within various disciplines of science and the humanities – on a regular basis to the EMBL to give public lectures on topics of interest.