CRISPR-Based Gene Therapy and Bioethics: A Bibliometric Mapping and Systematic Literature Review (2016–2026)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32332/al-jahiz.v7i2.14592Keywords:
CRISPR, Gene editing, Gene engineering, Gene therapy, BioethicsAbstract
This study integrates bibliometric mapping and a systematic literature review (SLR) to examine CRISPR-related technologies, therapeutic applications, and bioethical issues. A Scopus search on 9 May 2026 identified 275 records; predefined limits and abstract screening yielded 60 journal-source publications from 2016–2026. Biblioshiny (bibliometrix 5.0) was used to examine annual scientific production, country participation, citations, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic mapping. The highest annual output was nine publications in 2023. The United States (43), Australia (17), Spain (16), and China (13) had the highest country-production values. Gene editing, human, and gene therapy occupied basic-theme positions. Descriptive primary-focus coding of the 60 records identified ethics, governance, and public perceptions (36), therapeutic applications (17), editing mechanisms (4), and diagnostics or infectious disease (3). Reported challenges included off-target activity, delivery, and immunogenicity, while ethical issues involved germline editing, enhancement, public acceptance, and equitable access. Integrating these strands connects mapped terminology to specific technological and normative questions. The conclusions concern the selected corpus, not the clinical effectiveness or worldwide maturity of CRISPR technology.
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