New scientific tools, like CRISPR-Cas9, now allow scientists to modify human embryo’s genome, but we will not see gene-edited babies tomorrow.  

These tools/CRISPR have still to be perfected, and can cause damages to the genome. Moreover, in Britain, embryos modification is illegal, except for some researches, and the law will not change.

Nuffield Council says that genome editing is morally acceptable, as long as it is done for the good of the future baby, and does not increase inequalities between groups.

People fear about this new technology, imagining a dystopian future with enhanced humans.

This debate can be compared to that relating to IVF, in 1969. People felt the same concerns, while today, all that fear have disappear.  The difference is that, with gene editing, changes, whether good or bad, are passed on future generations, since we alter directly the genome.  

That is why we have to improve our knowledge about this technique, to not badly altern the genome. But, if one day it is possible to safely fix diseases, and prevent next generations from contracting it, we are ethically obligated to use it.

The question of human enhancement for non-therapeutic reasons is certainly the most debated. Improve intelligences and abilities means modify hundreds genes to which they depend, which is not really more efficient than education.

Like for the FIV, we may lost our fear in few years. But, for the moment, we have to continue researches and debates, without thinking that this will inevitably lead to a dystopian future.