Pressure on the German Embryo Protection Act is growing. The scientific community is launching a renewed attack on the controversial law and demands access to embryos for so-called high-ranking research objectives. "Germline therapies" are among the boastful promises of the proponents.

Current debates around genetic changes to the human germline are often centered on the safety of the technology. In an effort to shift the focus toward social justice and human rights issues, an international coalition of civil society advocates and academics has developed a set of principles.

In various reports and recommendations, ethics and scientific bodies promote a problematic image of disability as something worth avoiding. Even critics of germline interventions are often unable to free themselves from this ableist perspective.

The invention of CRISPR-Cas has sparked a debate around fundamental questions that should remain separated from the issue of efficiency of the technology. While proponents dream of improving our species, others call for a ban on all research.