Genome editing, human cloning, in vitro gametes and artificial womb: towards future scenarios, new dilemmas and responsibilities (Guest editor’s Introduction to ‘From Genome Editing to New Reproductive Technologies: Ethical and Social Issues)

In the future human reproduction could radically change. Today the birth occurs always through the fertilisation of an egg cell by the spermatozoon: tomorrow people could be born by cloning from a somatic cell or by parthenogenesis, without the need for a spermatozoon. Moreover, for the moment pregnancy may only occur in the woman’s body: yet in the future, we could also have artificial wombs able to grow an embryo up to the birth. Finally, today our genetic heritage is determined by chance, while in the future we could choose our children’s DNA: at that point, we could not only correct important anomalies, but even enhance the future generations’ dispositions and capacities. New reproductive technologies like cloning, parthenogenesis, artificial gametes and genome editing may contribute to correcting some important natural injustices. At the same time, we must also be aware that introducing new reproductive technologies may increase social injustice and negatively affect our ‘reproductive freedom’.