Embryonic Regulation and Research: What Is the Status of Human Germline Genome Editing in Australia?

Abstract

This article considers the status of human germline genome editing in Australia. Through an analysis of the current State, Territory and Commonwealth legal and ethical regulatory frameworks, and incorporating the capability approach to health justice proposed by Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen, the article argues that heritable alterations using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in a clinical context are inevitable in Australia, so the law needs to respond adequately to these scientific advances. The article concludes that human germline genome editing is currently not, and should not, be lawful in Australia, except for research purposes.