Human Genome Editing Essay

“Sixty to seventy percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain genetically modified ingredients”, according to George Erdosh and Marcia Amidon Lusted in “To GMO or not to GMO? Genetically engineered food has strong advocates and harsh critics.” Genetically modified organisms can be found in most conventional food processed in the United States., and gGenetic modification of crops is extremely common on classic Minnesotan farm plants, such as, corn and soybeans. They can also be found in papaya and zucchini, even animals such as cows and pig. In fact, the definition of (GMO) as reported by Alex K. Rich and Tom Warhol, authors of “Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview,””, is, “food in which, at some point during the production process molecules and proteins are chemically altered to give the food more nutrients, a better appearance, and a longer shelf life.” As a matter of fact, a majority of all the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. However, many people do not know what a genetic modification really is, or that the idea has been around for many years. GMOs are used to control pests and weeds. As the opposite of Non-GMO farming, this is accomplished by changing the genetic makeup of the plant, by using new technologies and techniques that allow for the use of specific chemicals.

Humans have been altering the genetic makeup of plants for millennia, keeping seeds from the best crops and planting them in following years, breeding and crossbreeding varieties to make them taste sweeter, grow bigger, last longer. In this way we've transformed the wild tomato, Lycopersicon, from a fruit the size of a marble to today's giant, juicy beefsteaks. From a weedy plant called teosinte with an "ear" barely an inch long has come our foot-long (0.3-meter-long) ears of sweet white and yellow corn. In just the past few decades plant breeders have used traditional techniques to produce varieties of wheat and rice plants with higher grain yields. They have also created hundreds of new crop variants using irradiation and mutagenic

Genome editing is still relatively new in the science world. It was only fairly recently that we gained the first ability to fix our DNA (Rajan). Genome editing is changing the DNA, which gives us the ability to change it for the better – which is not an easy thing to do (What Is Genome Editing?). In order to change the DNA, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are manipulated to improve the DNA (Hornblower, Reis, Robb, and Tzertzinis). A fracture is made in the DNA to modify it, in order to adjust the DNA to try to rid it of genetic diseases and abnormalities (What Is Genome Editing?). Then, a new sequence can be added into the existing DNA and be repaired (What Is Genome Editing?). This is the basic idea of the difficult genome editing. While complicated, once more progress is made and it becomes more successful, this process could work on a variety of diseases (What Is Genome Editing?).

Imagine the possibility of eliminating serious genetic diseases from the world. Imagine the idea of treating, preventing or even curing diseases that are yet to be cured. Imagine the feeling of being given improved health and a prolonged lifespan. This can all be accomplished with the aide of genetic engineering. Human genetic engineering refers to the process of directly manipulating human DNA to produce wanted results. DNA is a simple but very complex chemical that has the power to change the world and has begun to do so already. Many opponents to gene therapy fail to realize that genetic engineering has great potential to become very important in the biomedical industry. Though controversy exists regarding the ethics of human genetic engineering, it can produce numerous benefits, which outweigh its disadvantages and side effects; therefore, scientists should be able to manipulate the human genome for the purpose of helping people with serious medical conditions.

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 term GM food are most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Genetically modified plants have been widely publicised as the future in agriculture. Many believe that it may help improve crop harvests and farm productivity by developing genetically modified crops that can either resist pests or chemicals. But despite the promise that GM crops may offer, there are still doubts that linger among a number of people as well.

All we need to do it change one letter in the genetic code. For example, in the article, “In Praise of Designer Babies”, it states, “‘It would be against nature to treat your child's illness.’ So why is it obvious that we should treat the illness after the child is born, but not prevent the illness beforehand?” It would be silly of us if we did not treat our children if we knew they had a fatal illness. It is superior to help them while they are in the mother, and not watch them suffer as they grow. We might even be able to save countless of kids everywhere, by just changing one adenine, a nitrogen base, even adding or taking away a code. For example, when a child is born with down syndrome will have an extra chromosome or a chromosome with an extra part. We can get into the DNA and delete that extra chromosome to help heal the child. Another instance is, in the same article, text, it says, “Imagine you knew that you carried a gene for a debilitating illness. But, doctors could go into your egg (or your spouse's) and remove that gene…” Just imagine all of the healthy kids that will be able to enjoy their life relating to normal children and being able to do normal activities. Kids can be ecstatic everyday and their overall health all over the world might even improve by so much just by using genetics. Another example is, from the article, “Will Gene Editing Allow Us to Rid the World of Diseases”, it

As human civilization has evolved over the centuries, the way we produce our food has changed. There are many terms for describing this process such as food biotechnology or genetic engineering, but the most common one is genetically modified organisms or GMO. GMOs are used on plant life to enhance certain qualities before consumption or extraction. There have been many concerns about this subject, but despite this it should continue to be used in the future out of necessity.

And one of the top factors in determining the viability of genetic engineering is its accuracy. In an article reported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Studies on Bioethics at the University of Chile, it was found that CRISPR has “a high frequency of off target effects…in human cells” (Rodriguez). With a high threshold for error, CRISPR does not appear to be reliable yet, at least to researchers at the University of Chile. Ethically, this raises concerns about CRISPR being an option for usage in people due to its potential risks. Genetic engineering is far more complex than any other type of medical treatment out there, so if any type of error were to occur, it would be extremely difficult to fix. Sharon Begley, a journalist for STAT news who interviewed doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital, reported that “one concern about off-target effects is that genome-editing might disable a tumor-suppressor gene or activate a cancer-causing one” (Begley). This concern was later found to be true in a separate study performed on mice by a post-doctoral colleague of UC Berkeley’s Jennifer Doudna, where CRISPR “gave rise to mutations, creating a model for human lung cancer” (Bioethics). This study provides cold-hard evidence for the journalist’s claim that even the slightest mutation can lead to cancer.

Recently the scientific community has discovered Gene Editing. Gene Editing is the changing and or manipulation of the human DNA, to create certain characteristics or can be used as a method of curing a disease or disorder. There have been many disputes on whether this newfound invention should be practiced and

In twenty years, the Earth’s population will need fifty-five percent more food than it is currently producing with the same or fewer resources. This issue could be resolved, but the full effects are still unknown. Genetically modified organisms are plants, animals, or microorganisms that have had their genetic material changed in a way that does not happen naturally. According to the United States’ National Library of Medicine, genetically engineering organisms has been around since the 1990’s. There is controversy, however, in whether genetically modified foods should be used as a part of our diet because, although, it can provide more nutritious food, it could cause

Genome editing, or gene editing, is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted or replaced in the genome of a living organism using engineering ucleasus, or “molecular scissors” in the layman's terms. The technology at head of this procedure is the CRISPR-Cas9,the most versatile and precise method of gene editing and also is what made gene editing the hot topic it is in the medical world. As a result, of this breakthrough medical scientists have the ability to cure sickness, by eliminating genes that cause disease doctors can treat a wide range of illness

Biotechnology prompts a fear that humanity is gaining too much control over the choice of human evolution and destiny (McLean 1). CRISPR, “…the new fast, flexible, cheap way to manipulate the genetic code of life…” (Achenbach 1) exploits from the natural process used by ordinary bacteria to fend off against intrusive viruses while Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins), a set of enzymes, precisely snips DNA. CRISPR makes it simple to alter specific genes, resulting in many scientists beginning to use this new form of biotech for many of their experiments. Consequently, the editing of the

John Harris an author writing about gene editing expresses that the procedure can provide more benefit than harm. John illustrates in the article, “yes, their are issues with the process,but the amount of breakthrough that can be achieved s able to have the issues be overlooked”(Harris). Even though there are issues with the experimentation the scientific advancement this can provide will help change the future. When the gene editing is finally complete and mastered by the bio-technicians, it can help save lives. Even with the risks presented the scientific community is leaning in favor for the process, because of the long term benefits it can

“70 percent of our corn farmland and 93 percent of soy farmland are planted with crops genetically engineered to resist pests and herbicides and increase crop yields. 60% of all the processed foods in the United States are genetically modified; a shocking statistic has the concern of many Americans. However, most people are uninformed about the beneficial impact that genetically modified food has on their diet. GM is the use of molecular biology technology to modify the inherited structure of organisms. Genetically engineered crops increase nutrients, drought tolerance, provide more food for growing populations, and resists diseases and pesticides. Genetically engineered foods are crucial to the improvement of economy, agriculture, society, and health choices. The creation of GM foods was one of the most significant breakthroughs in food industry. Genetically modifying foods is a key component that is harmless for the enrichment of our foods.