The Journey to Gene Editing: A Case for Regulation

Abstract

"A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion” - Francis Bacon

Kenneth Muhangi is an Advocate, lecturer, author and recognized leading specialist in Intellectual Property and Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) law. He also consults for the World Bank and represents Uganda at the World Economic Forum.

This paper provides a jurisprudential outlook on the aspects surrounding gene editing and the future of humans. The paper explores the history, nature and state of the universe and predicts the world of tomorrow. The paper is structured in three seemingly separate parts. The first part is foundational; exploring different world views relating to the creation of the universe with a focus on science and religion with Christianity as an example.

The first part provides a background that may not at first glance seem linked to the rest of the paper. Any literature reviewed is meant to epistemologically enhance the metaphysical, sociological and biological foundations posited, creating the practical issues that arise and the subsequent need for clear evidence-based regulation.

The topics advanced in the first part have been exhaustively discussed by scientists not necessarily needing legal elaboration but rather provides a sort of guidance to regulation related issues. The second part cogitates the dissonance created by the different world views and which world views have inevitably led to advancements in human based science-gene editing; in particular CRISPR- CAS9 and general AI that has attributes akin to (un) consciousness.

The paper ends by making a case for regulation as the proposed way to deal with the myriad of issued that have arisen from gene editing and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

While this paper does not critique nor seek to look for/advance results, it appeals to the prima-facie human considerations concerning gene editing and AI, thus the philosophical, scientific and religious viewpoints explored.