Somatic cells can obtain mutations randomly in life, which can cause such things as cancer or it may just not affect anything. Germline cell mutations are obtained directly from the parent with that mutation, and may cause diseases or may have no affect, like the somatic cells. The main ethical difference between gene editing in these cells are that, gene editing in somatic cells leads to an alteration in genome for the specific person who decides the want it edited. Gene editing in germline cells raises the issue of the future child not being able to choose whether or not they would want their genes edited. In this case, the parent would have the choice and we would not know what affect it would have on the unborn
Somatic cells can obtain mutations randomly in life, which can cause such things as cancer or it may just not affect anything. Germline cell mutations are obtained directly from the parent with that mutation, and may cause diseases or may have no affect, like the somatic cells. The main ethical difference between gene editing in these cells are that, gene editing in somatic cells leads to an alteration in genome for the specific person who decides the want it edited. Gene editing in germline cells raises the issue of the future child not being able to choose whether or not they would want their genes edited. In this case, the parent would have the choice and we would not know what affect it would have on the unborn