Why Must We Verify Our Right to Exist?

As a former molecular biologist who worked in a biotechnology institute, I can say categorically that the ethics of any proposed research in this country involving human beings, or human tissue, is very rigorously investigated before it can go ahead. The same cannot be said of autocracies like China and Russia; it is research in these countries that is likely to be highly unethical.

Waiting for natural selection to solve challenges is likely to leave millions dead. This is illustrated by the Covid pandemic, molecular engineering gave us effective vaccines in a remarkably short time. Without the vaccines and the molecular biology techniques that allowed their production mankind would have survived, but quite likely there would have been severe mortality and very widespread cultural and economic disruption.

I agree with the usage of the technology, my concern is about human rights and informed consent of the individual. 

Such as I agree biotechnology will be a great help for things like sickle cell disease, but if it's a disability that is not fatal like autism, ADHD, down syndrome etc... the treatment should require informed consent from the patient. Even though I don't want to be cured of autism, I would approve of a cure if we had asurety it would be up to the autistic individual him-or herself.

Just like I see a great threat from the attitudes towards disabilities, I see great potential in biotechnology. 

I think that attitudes to disability, in the West, are probably the most positive they have ever been. I cannot imagine that anyone in a democratic country would be forced to undergo any treatment against their will or consent (excepting people with mental illnesses who are a danger to themselves or others). For most autistic people, the genetic basis of their condition is very, very complex, involving multiple genetic alleles, some of which are beneficial to themselves and society, and are widespread in the general population. The idea that gene editing techniques could be used to change such a complex system of alleles is unlikely, would be very costly and ethically questionable. Removing alleles that have contributed to individual genius, artistry and vast strides in human achievement would be self-defeating in a very fundamental way.

I think that attitudes to disability, in the West, are probably the most positive they have ever been. I cannot imagine that anyone in a democratic country would be forced to undergo any treatment against their will or consent (excepting people with mental illnesses who are a danger to themselves or others). For most autistic people, the genetic basis of their condition is very, very complex, involving multiple genetic alleles, some of which are beneficial to themselves and society, and are widespread in the general population. The idea that gene editing techniques could be used to change such a complex system of alleles is unlikely, would be very costly and ethically questionable. Removing alleles that have contributed to individual genius, artistry and vast strides in human achievement would be self-defeating in a very fundamental way.