Nonetheless, critics fear the slippery slope. After all, breaching the ethical and legal barrier to permanent genetic modification could make it more difficult to block its application for treating non-lethal conditions, or even for enhancing qualities like cognitive ability or athletic prowess.
与优生学不同，线粒体基因改造的支持者仅仅希望让子孙后代免受致命疾病的困扰。但批评者们担心对线粒体进行基因改造可能造成的后果。毕竟破除道德和法律障碍进行永久性的基因改造将加大阻止利用这项技术治疗非致命疾病、甚至提高认知或竞技能力等各项综合素质的难度。