Human Genome Editing

A human embryo is an organism at its first stage of human development. At this point it is controversial issue when it comes to making a decision if it is alive or not. Conscious [http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/embryo]. Until a desition can be made in the meantime scientific experimentation will still continue. As Rebecca Skloot says in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, “They put cells in culter dishes and expose them to radiation, drugs, cosmetics, viruses, household chemicals, and biological weapons, and the study their respnses” (pg 316). In the same way, Humand ebryos are also being expimented in such a way to deveoled a better understanding of diseases, cancer, and the development of modern

Imagine a world where maladaptive genetic diseases have ceased to exist, parents have the ability to alter and improve their unborn child’s attributes such as height, intelligence, and attractiveness, and each generation becomes healthier, smarter, and stronger. Sounds like an unfeasible utopia, does it not? However, due to scientific advancements in the field of embryonic gene modification, this fantasy may soon become a reality. In a nutshell, embryonic gene modification refers to scientists altering the genome of an embryo in vitro for a multitude of reasons, ranging from eliminating harmful genetic diseases to altering superficial characteristics. Although embryonic gene modification may seem like a dream come true to many, it is not without ethical concerns that require intense debate.

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?

Parents wish for their children to be perfect and, more so, healthy. Through the advancement of modern technology and science, giving birth to a child of desired hair color, body type, and without any physical or mental ailments could be a reality for all parents, whether or not they are carriers of certain genes. Genetic modification, sometimes called “germline editing,” has the potential to allow for medical doctors and scientists to not only change certain characteristics of a human embryo, but to also alter the future of humanity itself. While this process has many proponents, the modification of the very essence of human life has some people worried. This is, in fact, uncharted territory in the scientific world, and the extent of the possible

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

There have been many cases of accidental modification of healthy genes in the body, which could suggest that genetic modifications to human DNA is far from safe. “What the paper really emphasizes is that we are far away from using genomic editing because it’s not safe. The idea of using this for designer babies is very far-fetched. The technology is too far off,” said Dusko Ilic, a stem cell researcher at King’s College, London (Sample, Ian, ed).

Fast forwards two hundred years and the science (or lack thereof) depicted is almost indistinguishable, a revolutionary new process called CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is allowing science to edit the human genome almost at will. With the announcement of US scientists creating the first genetically modified embryo, an outburst of ethical debate has arisen. While they are certainly not the first (a Chinese division won the achievement in 2015), this achievement was created through the CRISPR process.

Genetic editing could save many people’s lives. For example the Chinese modified genes to try to eliminate a fatal blood disease (text 2, paragraph 4). Scientists refer to this type of gene editing as “gene therapy”(text 2, paragraph 3). Some think gene editing is unethical or “strange” (text 2,paragraph 3), although it will save the lives of many. Scientists are working on eliminating malaria and other harmful diseases (text 3, paragraph 1). Banning this practice would not allow scientists to help cure and make the human race more healthier.

New technological advances and scientific methods continue to change the course of nature. One of the current controversial advances in science and technology is the use of genetically modified embryos in which the study exceeds stem cell research. Scientists have begun planning for research involving human embryos in the genetic modification field. Many technological developments are responsible for improving our living standards and even saving lives, but often such accomplishments have troubling cultural and moral ramifications (Reagan, 2015). We are already beyond the days in which virtually the only procreative option was for a man and a woman to conceive the old-fashioned way (Reagan, 2015). Genetic modification of human embryos can be perceived as a positive evolution in the medical process yet it is surrounded by controversy due to ethical processes. Because this form of genetic modification could affect later born children and their offspring, the protection of human subjects should be a priority in decisions about whether to proceed with such research (Dresser, 2004). The term Human Genetic Engineering was originally made public in 1970. During this time there were several methods biologists began to devise in order to better identify or isolate clone genes for manipulation in several species or mutating them in humans.

National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine in Washington, D.C., yellow lighted the human embryo editing. Author Jocelyn Kaiser, a writer for the American Association for Advancement of Science, wrote on this subject. The committee concluded that a scientific observation “might be permitted, but only following much more research” on the dangers and profits, and only for compelling reasons and under firm oversight would this technology be used on human embryos. Some of the scientists doing the research on altering the DNA of embryos are pleased with this report. Having some rules and regulations takes away some of the ethical concern and leaves the science portions to be done. This article show how the whole gene editing thing became a reality, by having this information I will be able to use it in my research paper to give full descriptions on how it came to

Before we move to clinical trials we have to prove efficacy and safety in animal models, but ethics go beyond effectiveness and welfare. Firstly, Crispr raises an issue of social justice equality. Gene editing technologies are inflated and several professionals are afraid that patients who may benefit from them would not have access. Dr. Mitchell Weiss, chair of the hematology department at St. Jude Children's Research Center pointed out that many diseases are impacted in low-income families in developing countries. Questions raised by George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School: ‘Who would have access to this kind of human germline engineering?’ ‘Do we want to accept the scenario that only those with financial resources get to “improve” the genomes of their children?’ We can’t let the story get ahead of the facts. Secondly, Future generations can’t give consent. Francis S. Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, pointed out that medical research must always seek to balance benefits and risks, with individuals who are partaking in research giving fully informed consent. But the entities whose lives are potentially affected by germline alteration will be extending to countless generations into the future. They can’t give informed consent, in other words, permission granted in the knowledge of the possible

As well as the issue of ethics surrounding the use of human embryos for scientific research, there is another issue which is that this editing process went wrong in so many embryos. Without total certainty over the DNA editing, a baby having been born from technology like this would have a completely unknown outcome. This uncertainty and unpredictability means that eliminating certain diseases by editing DNA is likely to be a very long way off. The idea of testing the technology on a live human baby is also very complicated and therefore could be problematic. The question has been asked whether a scientific research ethics committee should have ever agreed to let this research be executed.

Many strong arguments in support of modifying humans for their benefit exist. People usually see genetic alteration as ethically permissible if it resolves genetic conditions which enables them to function to the fullest of their capabilities. Today, the most common modification occurs from our knowledge of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Firstly, PGD uses a screen test to detect chromosomal and genetic disorders in the embryo. With this technology, if a women is surgically having an embryo inserted into her womb, she has the ability to know the condition of the embryo, and if it has any abnormalities. Thus, by choosing embryo that lacks genetic issues, the mankind can help advance their offspring

Genes play an important role in the life of every living organism. Genetics are found in Farming to a woman’s fertility, virtually impacting every aspect of our life. Sometimes, these perfect codes that allow life to function in the desired way go haywire and cause abnormalities in the organism. There is a way to fix all of these ailments and the only problem that stands in the way is an unknowledgable public. The media have created a block of false truth that only allows for the news of ‘safe’ procedures to make it through to the general public. Yet, from sickle cell to malaria, diseases must be cured with new advanced technologies like Crispr and gene therapy; these methods are just as safe as the current methods that are ineffective.

The most well-known gene editing technique is CRISPR. In February this year, according to the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority in the United Kingdom, approved a request by Francis Crick Institute in London to modify human embryos using CRISPR-Cas9(Harris). CRISPR-Cas9 has the ability to remove genes or replace new ones