Introduction: After achieving the genome editing ability, huge prospects were created for curing genetic diseases and lots of the defects corresponding to other previous techniques were resolved by CRISPR-Cas9 editing system and there was actually a revolution in this area but, on the other hand some concerns were propounded about the ethical challenges this technology can bring with itself such as genome editing at the embryonic level, genetic discrimination, unequal accession and …. As a result, in corresponding conventions and international statements, there is always an assertion on applying the required conditions and protocols about the matter of genome editing.
Methods: In this review article in order to assess the ethical aspect of genome editing, first the declarations and universal statements related to genome editing like act compiled in Oviedo convention, universal declaration of human genome and also the statements of clinical experiments such as Helsinki statement and … are used and also the challenges of genome editing is evaluated with respect to the compiled rules for it. Then by examining the advantages and disadvantages of genome editing and also the background and result of the edits which are done so far at the genomic level, it was tried to gather different opinions about the genome editing and ethical issues related to that.
Results: In all legal texts, reports, declarations and statements which are published regard to venerating the subjects under experiments, respecting the rights of subjects and the principle of self-determination and profitability of individuals is reassured. Same rules and protocols and sometimes more necessitated ones are stated according to genome editing. However, having technical approvals of CRISPR technique and applying the compiled protocols related to genome editing and also close surveillance on enforcing the stated rules can lead to the effective treatment of genetic disorders.
Conclusion: The matter of genome editing although is in the beginning of its road to success but needs lots of attention regard to ethical issues and preserving the involved individuals’ rights and therefore along with the scientific advanced in this field, special attention should be paid to updating the ethical protocols, specially to the genome editing at the embryonic level, so that the best decision can be made according to the situation.