The quality and the ethics of any scientific endeavor are orthogonal attributes. To me it seems that gp is simply stating that they are concerned that the powe

The quality and the ethics of any scientific endeavor are orthogonal attributes. To me it seems that gp is simply stating that they are concerned that the power of these tools to solve problems could push society to adopt them at a rate that doesn’t allow for the longer term implications to be realized. Thalidomide may be unrelated pharmaceutically, but the EUA for Moderna was issued almost exactly 9 months after the very first phase 1 trial started. How many pregnancies were brought from conception to full-term through that testing? CRISPR has the ability to modify genetic material in reproductive cells, causing heritable germline modifications. How do we test that? Unfortunately the pandemic is distorting this conversation. There are too many subtexts around widespread rapid adoption, conflict around mandatory vaccination, avoidance of severe societal hazards, etc.