Some forms of evolutionary engineering that do not directly harm individuals, and therefore would not be subject to such regulations, such as decisions by all parents to make the same genetic changes in their offspring, could threaten the survival of the human lineage. Public-health systems could respond to this concern.
某些不会直接伤害个体从而不受这些监管措施约束的基因工程，如所有父母都为后代选择相同的基因，可能会威胁人类种系的生存。公共卫生系统可以应对这一忧虑。但是，审视过去官员用遗传学改善公共卫生的努力就会发现——最著名者当属20世纪早期的优生学运动及其可怕的强迫绝育——确保这一权力不被滥用且必须以科学为依据是极其重要的。