Genome Editing Techniques are seen to be at the frontier of current research in the field of
emerging biotechnologies. The latest revolutionary development the so-called CRISPR technology
represents a paradigmatic example of the ambiguity of such techniques and has resulted in an
international interdisciplinary debate on whether or not it is necessary to ban the application
of this technique by means of a moratorium on its use for human germline modifications
particularly in human embryos in the reproduction process. However given that other germline
engineering techniques like mitochondrial (mt) DNA transfer techniques are already permitted
and applied the question arises what lies at the root of the apparent social unease about the
modification of the human germline by Genome Editing Techniques like CRISPR. Against this
background the book seeks to make a substantial contribution to the current debate about a
responsible and participatory framework for research on emerging biotechnologies by analysing
underlying perceptions attitudes arguments and the reasoning on Genome Editing Techniques.
