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Pros And Cons Of Genetic Editing

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Arguments in Favor There are a number of arguments that have been proposed in favor of allowing genomic editing via CRISPR/Cas9. This technology offers couples who either face infertility or who themselves suffer from a heritable disease, or are a carrier, the choice to genetically engineer their children so that they are at minimal risk for disease. Using the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) screening, discussed previously, doctors are able to share information with prospective parents, and help them to make informed decisions in regards to selecting which embryo will have the greatest chance of survival and living a healthy life [2]. For couples who themselves suffer from a genetic condition, and use PGD as a means to have a child …show more content…

It is argued that all parents, regardless of whether their child’s genes were edited or not, highly influence the lives in which their children live through the environment in which they are raised [2]. A child who grew up living in Bronx, New York, for example, would develop a different personality and morals than a child raised in rural Michigan, even if they were identical twins, simply as a result of their environment [7]. So, the argument is that parents who would choose to genetically modify their children’s DNA, would not be altering the child’s future any more than they would be in choosing the type of environment in which their child is raised …show more content…

It was only in 2003 that the Human Genome project was completed, and the entirety of our genes were mapped out by highly advanced technology [3]. It was only then that it became possible for this technology to even work. Because CRISPR/Cas9 is such a new technology, the potential side effects of editing even just one gene are unknown. It is more than likely that unwanted mutations in other genes could be caused by the use of this system; mutations that could cause infertility, trigger undesirable hormone production, or even cause cancer [2]. More significantly, there are many uncertainties in how genome editing will effect future generations. Human genetic modification has the potential to change mankind forever, and there is no way of knowing whether this change would be for better or for worse [3]. In a parent’s decision to genetically modify their own child, they are making the decision for their children’s children to be genetically modified as well [3]. And, once an individual’s genes are altered, there is no going back in time, and these genetic changes will be passed on from one generation to the next [3]. This also raises concerns regarding consent. For this technology, the mother and father of the child must give consent on behalf of their unborn child, since it is impossible for an embryo to grant or deny consent

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As an article from Popular Science says, CRISPR is the method used “to remove genes from an early stage embryo” (Chodosh). Although there is still not a one hundred percent guarantee that the DNA or gene can be removed from all the cells, it is still a successful and promising technique. At first glance it might seem inhumane to take or manipulate genes, the article says that “…the most useful genes to edit would be those for serious genetic diseases” (Chodosh). In other words, this could save thousands of babies from being sick or disabled for the rest of their lives. However, having the ability to manipulate genes also lends the opportunity of changing DNA to create designer babies.

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Once a child starts to grow older, “23andMe” could ruin the strong tie between a parent and a child as the baby starts to realize they look different from their family members, and eventually the child might start to question whether or not they are apart of the household they see around them since not everyone would look exactly the same. This genetic modification will also start to loosen ties in society as this meme “spreads [itself] around indiscriminately without regard to whether [it is] useful, neutral, or positively harmful” (Blackmore 37) and starts to become more popular, eventually leading the costs for this genetic modification to rise and resulting in the fact that not everybody would have enough money to design their baby. All of a sudden, there will now be a newfound separation where people will face prejudice, no longer for their ethnicity, but for their inferior genetics. Gladwell argues that “weak ties seldom lead to high-risk activism” (137), and once individuals realize they are facing such prejudice from people who used to be just like them, they will rise and demand for changes and equal rights. Society will change as new social ranks will be made and genetically modified people will want nothing

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This type of gene editing has been tested for over twenty years, so it is well-researched and highly regulated. Somatic gene editing is used to treat or cure genetic diseases by making changes in the DNA of the targeted cells. This means changes are only made to the patient’s DNA because sperm or egg cells are not edited. To use somatic gene editing, some of the patient's stem cells are removed, CRISPR (or another gene editing technology) is used to correct the mutation, the corrected cells are infused back into the patient, and the corrected cells start replicating (Bergman). One study, conducted by Sikandar Hayat Khan, compared different gene editing technologies, which showed that the most efficient and practical gene editing technology is CRISPR/Cas9.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/science/gene-editing-human-embryos.html Everything about our bodies is determined in microscopic strands of DNA. It tells us what our hair color is, what shade our eyes will be and how tall we will be. It even can predict what diseases we might receive, but recently a group at Oregon Health and Science University and some of their colleagues in California, China, and South Korea reportedly successfully changed an embryo’s genetic code. They were able to repair dozens of embryos with a mutation that cause a life-threatening heart condition on August 2nd, 2017. Changing the genes in our DNA is not something only thought of in the past year.

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Although there are some serious and grim possibilities, this tool should be used in more in humans and animals. Works Cited: Belluck, Pam. “In Breakthrough, Scientists Edit a Dangerous Mutation From Genes in Human Embryos.” The New York Times, 2 Aug. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/science/gene-editing-human-embryos.html. “Geneticists Have Used Crispr Gene Editing to Create Crops That Grow More f Ood .”

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Many great things can be accomplished through genetic engineering, but scientific progress is being halted by the opposition 's use of arguments with questionable logic. Most notably is their fear of designer babies. The problem with designer babies is that complex beneficial traits such as height, strength, intelligence, and attractiveness aren’t determined by one gene, and are also dependent on many other variables that aren’t genetic. Some traits such as the shape of an earlobe, eye color, or an individual’s susceptibility to certain diseases are determined by a single gene, and that specific gene can be identified and isolated by scientists. Professor of translational epidemiology at Emory University, Cecile Janssens states, “Even when all genes and their complex interactions are completely understood, our ability to use gene editing for favorable traits will remain limited because human traits are just not genetic enough.”

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According to the World Health Organization, genetic disorders affect one in every twenty-five children born worldwide. We humans, along with all other known organisms, possess genes in our cells that determine everything about how we look and function. Occasionally, an organism may inherit a faulty gene, causing it to have one or several detrimental characteristics known as genetic disorders. This may also occur due to environmental factors that the organism is exposed to, such as ultraviolet radiation, which damage its genes and cause alterations in them when they repair. The recent discovery of CRISPR-Cas9, or simply CRISPR, a defense system against viruses in bacteria, has presented the possibility of gene-editing in a way that is faster,

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In cases like Jesse Gelsinger, a young man testing out gene therapy ended up dying in a very traumatic and unexpected fashion. There is a fear that gene editing could end up causing some of the same mistakes. But even with this set back in the CRISPR gene editing tool, the science community says that gene editing is not incredibly far off in the future. If gene editing becomes a new factor in our lives, there are many concerns and excitements that would come with it.

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Scientist clarify that “Genome-editing technologies may offer a powerful approach to treat many human diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hemophilia, sickle-cell anemia and several forms of cancer” (Lanphier et.al). The medical advances that come along with this could truly help save lives. It may be able to help get rid of serious, life threatening diseases before they even exist inside a child. In doing this, children will not have to live with genetic disorders and live a healthy life. Ronald Green explains “Human weakness has been eliminated through genetic engineering” (570).

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The extension of human life has been a topic of great controversy, since the last the scientific revolution. But in recent years, our medical field has brought research to new opportunities that offer human lifetime to extend. This new research has brought up new controversy among the medical community and patients, making the controversy about the idea of using genes and changing them to better the chance of the extension of life. Making the process called gene editing which is “the ability to precisely and accurately change any part of any genome” (Andrew, par 1). Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary says genome be be determined as “one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes” (“Genome”).

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Gene Editing Gene editing is a hot new topic in the world of science and is being recognized by many for its ability to allow scientist to manipulate the genome of any living creature using specialized tools to edit the DNA. Essentially science is unveiling how we could potentially play God in the very near future by editing a person’s genome to remove disease or create designer babies for prospecting parents. These four articles provide a solid overview of gene editing, specifically the tool CRISPR/Cas9 which allows the scientist working with them to manipulate the removal of gene sequences that might otherwise produce an ill effect upon the patient or embryo. All four articles bring to light that CRISPR/Cas9 is a tool that will allow scientist

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However, the impact of gene therapy can be passed down to the future generation if the modification takes place within one’s reproductive cells, such as egg or sperm cells (). According to a statistics report provided by The Journal of Gene Medicine, between 1989 and 2016, 2262 clinical gene therapy trails were initiated or approved worldwide, but less than one per cent of these trials have shown clinical benefits, which means gene therapy is still at its experimental stage (). However, we are uncertain at the potential long-term ramification of altering genes. Since human bodies are a complex mosaic, a positive change upstream could cause a negative effect downstream.

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From the moment a child is born, a parent wants nothing more than two things: to protect them from everything and to give them all the opportunities they never had. In the last fifteen years, science has greatly aided their efforts by providing potential parents with a life changing choice- do I want my child to be genetically manufactured? Genetic modifications in an embryo can determine whether or not a child will have blue eyes or be less prone to cardiovascular disease, however this great medical advancement has seen much controversy. Even though genetically modified children represent a great leap in technological advancements, it is largely unethical because people will harm society by introducing new humans that were not intended

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Medical Technology Imagine a world without disease, where all babies are born healthy. People would not have to suffer from any of the thousands of genetic diseases that wreak such havoc. Such a concept seems so futuristic and highly improbable, but scientists have recently made tremendous strides towards technology that can eliminate genetic defects from our DNA. Human genetic engineering is a rapidly advancing field that has the potential to eradicate countless genetic diseases, yet, at the same time, it also raises a lot of questions and concerns. There are many ethical questions that arise when it comes to modifying human DNA, and there are also concerns about its safety and its reputation in science.

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Genome editing offers a great deal of control and accuracy in how DNA sequences are changed. It can provide improvements in healthcare by saving lives. If the procedure is successful then there is a newfound permanent solution to prevent genetic diseases. However, it does create disruptive news to the public of whether it is ethical or an unethical choice.

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