Dr Kitchens-Kintz: Genome Editing

Human gene editing has long been controversial topic; however, precise techniques that accomplish this feat have only recently been discovered. According to the Welcome Genome Campus in the UK, the most versatile and simplest technique, called CRISPR-Cas9, allows scientists to cut, alter, or add to sections of the DNA sequence of living organisms (“What Is CRISPR-Cas9?”). This astonishing technology has nearly endless applications, including the potential to eradicate genetic diseases in humans that currently have no cure. This could have vast implications for people who suffer with disease and the economy of the region in which they live, but the technology has yet to be commercialized. The

The animals that belong in our ecosystem is diminishing as time goes on, many of which we have not thought of becoming endangered, are being threatened. Scientists have figured out an alternative solution to save species from being threatened by humans and natural disasters. This alternative way is gene editing, as Joseph Dussault stated in the Christian Monitor: “Gene drive, a controversial genetic editing technique through which scientists could alter or eliminate entire species, is mostly discussed alongside Zika and malaria fears” (par. 2). It can help save species as well as turn it around and attack themselves for carrying a disease. With the use of gene editing, helping preserve the species

In order to explore the ethical landscape of genome editing, it is first necessary to discuss the range of methods, the differing goals, and the recent advances in this biotechnology. According to the director of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins, genome editing is an “area of research seeking to modify genes of living organisms to improve our understanding of gene function and advance potential therapeutic applications to correct genetic abnormalities.” More specifically, different gene-editing technologies have the goals of “precise manipulation of gene sequences in their natural chromosomal context and addition of transgenes to specific genomic loci.” Genome editing technologies have a wide range

The practical uses for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and other nuclease gene editing methods extend to animals as well. There are many proposed uses of the technology that need to be considered according to their associated risks and benefits. The first of which is the use of CRISPR to knock out genes associated with horn development in dairy cattle (Cima, 2016). Animals with horns present a hazard to animals kept in the same enclosure as them and to the workers that handle them. Only a small percentage of dairy cattle are born without horns, the rest need to have their horns removed. The horn removal process is considered inhumane and causes the animal a lot of pain according to animal rights activists. Using the modern gene editing tools scientists are able to reduce the suffering of animals while still protecting other cattle and their handlers. Traditional breeding methods have failed to produce a hornless cow while preserving the Holsteins ' large milk production (Staropoli, 2016).

Victor Frankenstein may have created and abandoned a creature, but what happens when you start to design future generations? Any scientific advancement that can have such a great effect on the lives of people has a possibility to be misused. Something as large as genome editing can be extremely useful, life changing, and effect every future generation. Then again, with great power comes great responsibility. Will genome editing be the modern Frankenstein?

The world we live in is advancing more and more every day. We are beginning to exceed boundaries and reach new limits. Science and Technology has come a long way since Copernicus said that the sun was the center of the universe. Science fiction is slowly coming to life. We are building robots that are extremely similar to humans, modifying genes, and creating clones. Authors wrote about these abstract ideas not too long ago, but at the time they seemed far-fetched. Scientific and technological advancement may be for good or for evil. The good side is the advancements in medicine that could limit the risk of a particular disease or even cure one. The potentially bad side is the steps we may take to get there without knowing the long-term effect. In Michael Bess’s article “Blurring the Boundary Between Person and Product,” he discusses the advancement of genetic

Gene mutations have become very helpful in todays time. If your child has a disorder when they are born then doctors can take that certin gene out and put a helathy one in its place. Every year smoking causes 150 new dna mutations. Each generation has roughly 140 mutations. Mary Shelly wrote a book called frankenstein and it is a warning to science. it is a warning to science because of the power of nature, forbidden knowledge, and the role of god shouldn’t be played by anyone except him.

Jaroff, L. “Making the Best of a Bad Gene.” EBSCOhost, EBSCO Industries, Inc., 10 Feb. 1992, web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=7&sid=fa7b5659-3277-4ba4-967e-45e7d027051a%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9202103260. Accessed 15 Dec. 2017.

Technology has helped humanity in almost every aspect of everyday life. It has made life so much easier that it has become almost impossible to live without. In Dr. Richard Restaks “Attention Deficit: The Brain Syndrome of Our Era”, and Alexandra Samuels “Plug In Better’: A Manifesto” they both go into detail on how technology has affected today’s society, and how it has changed human behavior to rely on it to such a degree that people have become addicted to technology as if they need it for their very survival. Both Restak and Samuel talk about how technology has made humanity more connected to each other and yet has also disconnected each other at the same time and to the real world. People use technology so much in their everyday lives to solve problems and to carry out tasks that they no longer control its effects on them, whereas before people had to rely on their own individual talents, skills, and efforts to get tasks completed. Gene therapy and other cutting edge medical techniques like all technology, has incredible life changing potential as well as possible side effects

It was the summer of 2009 when everything changed. In that moment I didn't know she would never be the same. I remember the first time I noticed something was wrong she was laying in her bed talking to herself. A few days later a doctor diagnosed her with schizophrenia. The doctor told me "my identical twin would NEVER be who I remembered her to be". For the most, I believed her, but I still wanted to see if I could help. After researching for months ,I stumbled across an article on genome editing. It is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is altered in the genome of an organism using engineered nucleases. It has the potential to cure diseases and revoltionize the treatment of others. It has already saved a little girl dying from leukemia.

Ronald M. Green who wrote “Building Babies From the Genes Up” has a different opinion to the use of genetic modification. He is saying that “if we understand the genetic causes for diseases we could use the technology to fix the bad gene in the DNA; no one has to suffer from diseases such as dyslexia, or Huntington” (570). Hayes argues that “why should a child struggle with reading difficulties when we could alter the gene responsible for the problem” (570). He said that having more knowledge about our gene could give us more freedom in term of biological obstacles that every new generation faces. He also mentions that genetic modification has worrying social effects, but he says “it will help close the gap in social class”(571). He said that

Genome editing is a huge leap forward in science and medicine. Because of recent advances in technology, the study of genes and induced ‘point’ mutations have led to the discovery and advancement of methods previously used in order to mutate genes. The development of Clusters of Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR associated system 9 protein (Cas9) technology is a hugely significant leap forward as this is a tool that could potentially be used for the research into and hopefully the treatment of a range of medical conditions that are genetically related. Cystic fibrosis (Schwank, G. et al, 2013), haemophilia and sickle cell disease are an example of some of the conditions that have the

Within the last 100 years or so scientists have many valuable discoveries that have benefited mankind. These discoveries include the discovery of genes. Scientists have discovered what makes humans so unique from one another. However, with this newly gained knowledge of the function of genes comes the ability to alter or change them. Just imagine in the not so near future, you and your partner want to start a family together. You travel to your local gene councillor to pick the physical and characteristic traits of your child. That’s right. With the knowledge that has been gained about genes, scientists can “create” the perfect child genetically. The thought is scary. Nature has always taken us down the right path but are we really ready

disagree with the idea of genetic editing, we all want the next and even the future generations that will come after us to have a better, safe, and natural environment to live in but genetic editing will not help us achieve any of that, even if it has helped slowing down the process of food spoilage and supplying recipients with their needed organs it is still too risky to agree with this new and world-changing technology. In the year 2005, scientists involved in the genetic modification of corns, has been asked by a German court to publicly state their newly found discoveries - that consuming genetically modified corn can put human health at risk if consumed, this discovery has been tested out in rats, and has horrifyingly revealed that the ingested modified corns showed blood, kidney and liver failures in rats due to the toxic reaction in their body.

Every living thing is the product of the genes that were passed down from ancestors. Genes make up everything we are. One gets their traits from their parents. Most people live full lives with relatively good health. However, some people inherit mutated genes or faulty genes. This could lead to genetic disorders that could be life threatening. Even today, many genetic disorders still remain incurable, leaving many people without hope. Genetic therapy could be their answer. It is through this research that the cure for genetic disorders can be found. Though some people believe it is unethical or immoral to alter genes, current therapeutics have not been able to save the lives of the patients with these diseases. Genetic therapy