Normative, empirical, and pragmatic ethical objections to Singapore permitting human genetic enhancement via germline genome editing

Abstract The ethics of germline gene editing for human enhancement are critically examined under Singapore’s sociocultural context, where Confucian values and hypercompetitive social norms that prize academic credentialism create fertile ground for the rise of ‘consumer eugenics’ (liberal eugenics). This is particularly relevant to Singapore, given that its economy relies heavily on the quality of its human resources. The development of new technologies such as heritable polygenic editing might make human genetic enhancement a practical reality in the future despite its risks. Here, we challenge the scientific rationality underpinning consumer eugenics and critically analyse various ethical issues and potential negative social repercussions of permitting human genetic enhancement. These include exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities, marginalizing ethnic minorities, skewing the job market, accelerating the nation’s demographic decline, adverse impacts on genetically enhanced offspring, and disruptions of family dynamics. Addressing these issues thus contributes to the global conversation on gene editing and its broader implications for society.