Synthesis Essay On Genetic Technology

“With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code”(Hawking). Scientists have been practicing editing the DNA of organisms in order to remove unwanted genes and or enhance their survival rates. As technology advances, it allows this practice to become more precise and successful. Scientist have been having successful test in modifying human dna which causes more controversies on whether it should be allowed or not.Genetic engineering should be permitted due to its ability to benefit the medical and environmental future.To begin with the idea of potentially removing unwanted traits in DNA sequences, to aid in removing hereditary diseases.

During January of 2013, scientists based at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard were able to demonstrate fixed change in human and animal cells using CRISPR-Cas9. This marked a turning point in genetic advancement—though CRISPR was far from mastered, its potential was beginning to show.

Although the intentions of genetically modifying DNA in human embryos is aimed to rid society of genetic defects, it is still essential that this scientific discovery remains ethical. In an article on NPR.org, Rob Stein describes an experiment that scientists have been conducting in which they modify human DNA in order to eliminate life threatening genetic diseases that could be passed on for generations (Stein). In Portland, at Oregon Health & Science University, Paula Amato, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, explains “that their work is aimed at preventing terrible diseases, not creating genetically enhanced people...much more research is needed to confirm the technique is safe and effective before anyone tries to make a baby this way”(Stein). Because scientists like Amato realize their research is controversial, they are taking every precaution to assure what they are doing is morally correct, they are not intending to corrupt society. Although their intentions are good, it is their job to make sure their research is being used in an ethical way. If not, millions of people, who are already obsessed with the idea of perfection, will be able to do something about

However, with the statements being made in the Shorthorn article there are strong arguments. One being the designer babies instead of finding out at birth. It ruins the purpose of a surprise for the parents. Also the lack of consent to the offspring is unsettling. With the process of gene alteration there is a risk of genetic mutation but, would be solved with CRISPR. The concept of designer babies strips originality of an individual. CRISPR is still in the beginning stages as well so there will be trial and error. If the wrong gene were to be deleted would the side effects be permanent or temporary?

The genetic engineering used for genetically modifying embryos and the thought of genetically modifying embryos is a technology that has caused an unethical dilemma within today’s society. This genetic technology comes at a risk, however, the most common way to genetically modify a human embryo, let alone anything living is known as CRISPR Cas9. This tool uses the enzyme Cas9 to cleave onto DNA to cut it, however according to Alex J. Maben a journalist who wrote an article on the flaws of this technology states “’The Cas9 enzyme that CRISPR uses to cleave DNA… could also make cuts where it’s not intended to, potentially causing cancer’(Kaiser, para5). Also, once CRISPR is in the body, it stays in the body” (Maben). This is an ethical dilemma because as stated above the CRISPR tool can cause cuts to

Reviewing the ethical dilemmas on this topic listed earlier, those with some type of religious background will most likely have a harder time accepting this new area of scientific development. Whereas, those who do not involve religious beliefs in their view point may see CRISPR as a revolutionary scientific discovery that will significantly benefit the greater good. Allowing CRISPR to be further research, and hopefully one day used, can greatly impact billions of people in such an amazing way. Living with an incurable disease or having the potential to develop one later on in life can be detrimental to not only the individual, but the individual’s family. Eliminating terminal genetic diseases will not only relieve people of pain and

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is achieved by “deleting and/or inserting bases at the zygote stage of embryonic development” (Sas et al, 2017, p. 1). In theory, if gene editing occurs during the very early stages of embryonic development, “every cell in the embryo will contain this edited DNA [thus] every organ in the developing baby will contain edited DNA” (Sas et al, 2017, p. 7). However, at this stage of development, one small error could cause a significant problem. Should an unintentional removal or insertion into genes occur, the damage could lead to new diseases or deformities and “may lead to generations of unforeseen and possibly irreparable harm—such as removing someone’s protective gene for cancer” (“The Price Tag”, 2018, p. 329). In reality, gene editing may in fact introduce new genetic diseases effectively nullifying the whole point of gene

CRISPR/Cas9 DNA editing system is a prokaryotic immune system that becomes resistant to foreign genetics such as plasmids. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly-Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, which are prokaryotic DNA strands that have a short repetition base sequence. Cas9 is a nuclease enzyme that is used to cut into DNA strands that are associated with CRISPR type II. CRISPR/Cas9 system has several advantages when using this technology in the biological and biomedical sciences. It also has a few disadvantages that cause concerns when using this system in the medicine field. However, before all of this can be discussed, a depth of what CRISPR/Cas9 is and where it comes from and why is it important to the biology field.

Imagine a world where we can control genetics. What if we had the opportunity to eliminate all genetic diseases in just a few steps. Imagine a society where anyone could flip through a catalog to shop for traits to “design” their child. This may seem a little far fetched, however this imagined world may soon become possible through the rapid advancing development of genetic engineering. New and advanced technology has finally made it possible to access and hack the human genome. New gene editing technology called CRISPR Cas-9 has completely transformed the biomedical field. CRISPR Cas-9 is cheap, precise, efficient and ultimately works on all living organisms. Advanced genetic technology that have allowed us to genetically modify our food and clone sheep, may one day give parents the option to modify their own children. However the idea of one day creating “designer babies” sparks great controversy.

The US and Korean team created 58 human embryos while using the CRISPR-Cas9 they were able to repair faulty genes up to 70%. (…)

My first key question I think is important is authority. I think that they should not use CRISPR. I think this because of my religious belief. I think that god made us for who we are and using CRISPR would change who we would be as a person. God created each person for who they are. For example, if someone had autism but they took it away before the fetus is born then they are changing that fetus whole life that God had planned

The ability to engineer biological systems and organisms has an enormous potential for applications across basic science, medicine and biotechnology. Genome editing is a group of technologies that allow scientists the ability to change an organism’s DNA, which can provide better outcomes for health and disease control compared to natural immunity and mutations. Genome editing (gene editing) allows genetic material to be added, removed or altered at particular locations in the genome. A number of gene editing technologies have emerged in recent years with one of the most versatile and precise methods of genetic manipulation being Crispr-Cas9 (Steve scott,2016). The term Crispr-cas9, (clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats)

Secondly, if CRISPR-Cas9 is expensive it could create a huge divide between rich and poor. This divide is already a huge problem currently. According to Pew Research Center they found out the wage gap between upper class and middle class was really large. In 2013, the median wealth of the nation’s upper-income families was nearly seven times the median wealth of middle-income families. This is the widest wealth gap seen in 30 years since the Federal Reserve began collecting this kind of data (Pew Research Center). With gene modification is can be possible that the wage gap can get even bigger. Wealthier people would be able to afford CRISPR-Cas9 and their future children would be the supreme race. Their children would be the made to be the most good-looking and most intelligent. For example, a future parent can make their child over six feet tall and have attractive facial qualities. These qualities would benefit them in the future when it comes to the work force. People tend to hire people that have these qualities, especially in a job in sales and or anything associated with the media. Everyone from middle class and below would be out of luck of securing a job if the supreme race has far more of an advantage than them. Finding work in this economy is hard enough as it is.

The future of CRISPR is a widely debated one within the scientific community, some scientists believe that by being able to alter genes, it will further society to a point where we can cure all diseases, and live in a more peaceful society, with less death and more food supply. Whereas some scientists believe that the future of CRISPR is destined to be used in harmful ways such as creating bio weapons and war.

Every human is made up of cells, In the cells there is a nucleus with 46 pairs of chromosomes. In the chromosomes their are genes which are made up of DNA. Everybody in the world has different DNA and in most there's some sort of disease embedded in their genes. What if that could never happen. This is what the scientists can do with crisper. They rewrite the DNA so that the disease was never there. I think that humans should not be allowed to change the DNA of people.