Genetic engineering opens new possibilities for biomedical enhancement requiring ethical, societal and practical considerations to evaluate its implications for human biology, human evolution and our natural environment. In this Commentary, we consider human enhancement, and in particular, we explore genetic enhancement in an evolutionary context. In summarizing key open questions, we highlight the importance of acknowledging multiple effects (pleiotropy) and complex epigenetic interactions among genotype, phenotype and ecology, and the need to consider the unit of impact not only to the human body but also to human populations and their natural environment (systems biology). We also propose that a practicable distinction between 'therapy' and 'enhancement' may need to be drawn and effectively implemented in future regulations. Overall, we suggest that it is essential for ethical, philosophical and policy discussions on human enhancement to consider the empirical evidence provided by evolutionary biology, developmental biology and other disciplines. Lay Summary: This Commentary explores genetic enhancement in an evolutionary context. We highlight the multiple effects associated with germline heritable genetic intervention, the need to consider the unit of impact to human populations and their natural environment, and propose that a practicable distinction between 'therapy' and 'enhancement' is needed.

中文翻译：

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人类增强：基因工程和进化。

基因工程为增强生物医学开辟了新的可能性，需要从伦理，社会和实践的角度来评估其对人类生物学，人类进化和我们自然环境的影响。在此评论中，我们考虑了人类的增强，尤其是在进化的背景下探索了遗传的增强。在总结关键的开放性问题时，我们强调了认识基因型，表型和生态学之间的多重影响（多效性）和复杂的表观遗传相互作用的重要性，以及不仅要考虑对人体的影响单位，还要考虑对人群及其影响的单位。自然环境（系统生物学）。我们还建议在未来的法规中可能需要对“治疗”和“增强”之间进行切实可行的区分。总体而言，我们建议对于人类增强的伦理，哲学和政策讨论，必须考虑进化生物学，发育生物学和其他学科提供的经验证据。内容摘要：该评论探讨了进化背景下的遗传增强。我们强调了与种系遗传遗传干预相关的多重影响，需要考虑对人类及其自然环境的影响单位，并建议在“治疗”和“增强”之间进行切实可行的区分。本评论探讨了进化背景下的遗传增强。我们强调了与种系遗传遗传干预相关的多重影响，需要考虑对人类及其自然环境的影响单位，并建议在“治疗”和“增强”之间进行切实可行的区分。本评论探讨了进化背景下的遗传增强。我们强调了与种系遗传遗传干预相关的多重影响，需要考虑对人类及其自然环境的影响单位，并建议在“治疗”和“增强”之间进行切实可行的区分。