The social implications of new and emerging human biotechnologies are far-reaching and profound. Genetic, reproductive and biomedical technologies have the power to promote or undermine individual well-being and public health, create private fortunes or advance the public interest, and foster or threaten a just and fair society.

Used appropriately, many human biotechnologies hold great potential for treating disease and alleviating suffering. But these same tools can also be abused, either deliberately, inadvertently, or because of our inattention and inaction.

Human biotechnologies can promote or undermine individual well-being and public health, create private fortunes or advance the public interest, and foster or threaten a just and fair society.

Some applications of human biotechnologies could lead to unwanted and even horrific outcomes if we fail to establish responsible cultural norms and effective public policies. It would be tragic if advances in human biotechnology were to wind up increasing our already shameful health disparities, targeting individuals or groups on the basis of their real or perceived genetic characteristics, or fostering efforts to produce genetically "superior" children.

Policy challenges and public understanding

Among the most serious of the challenges we face is that policy makers and the public lack a full understanding of the social meanings of human biotechnologies. The sheer pace of innovation and commercialization creates a first-level obstacle to careful deliberation.

Partly as a result, biotechnology companies, along with universities and research institutes that respond to market forces, are now taking it on themselves to make important decisions that will affect us all. There has been far too little democratic influence on research priorities, oversight and regulation; about the kinds of genetic, reproductive and biomedical products that may eventually be commercialized; or about their likely social consequences.

Most biotechnology researchers want to advance scientific knowledge in ways that benefit humanity as a whole. But a disturbing number of influential scientists, biotechnology entrepreneurs, and pundits believe that human progress would be best served by genetically "enhancing" future generations. Some of them have begun openly promoting the development and use of biotechnologies to manipulate the genetic characteristics of future children and "seize control of human evolution."

Meanwhile, many civil society constituencies that typically advocate for human rights and the public interest do not yet have the capacity to confront the social consequences of human biotechnology. Few organizations have taken on the task of advocating for the development, use, and governance of human biotechnologies based on values that enrich the common good and protect the public interest.

In addition, consideration of some biotechnology issues has been distorted by a political polarization that mirrors the divide in the United States on abortion rights. The influence of religious fundamentalism at the federal level in the US has led many scientists and research advocates to resist even reasonable government regulation and oversight.

Broad support for responsible regulation

Fortunately, there is broad support for responsible biotechnology policies. For example, nearly all countries that are pursuing embryonic stem cell research have implemented policies to oversee and regulate it. And there are already policy models in place on the most troubling human biotechnologies. More than 30 countries - including almost all that have significant biotechnology industries - prohibit human reproductive cloning and / or inheritable genetic modification (changing the genes we pass on to our children). And poll after poll shows that the vast majority of Americans oppose reproductive cloning.

Appropriate social oversight and regulation need not impede potentially beneficial medical research and applications. There is no reason that people of different nations, cultures, religions and philosophies cannot work together in support of the policies needed to protect our common human future.

The next years and decades are a critical window of opportunity. This is the time to build the values of social justice, human rights, the public interest, and the common good into the development of the technologies themselves, and into the policies that govern them.