The Pros And Cons Of Gene Editing Therapy

Gene therapy is a very controversial topic that has been discussed in the last five years and is being heavily studied to help cure cancer. Gene therapy is a technique aimed at treating genetic disorders by introducing the correct form of the defective gene into the patient’s genome (Dunlop et al., 2010).

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.

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.

In the world of science we face a myriad of controversial studies that confront bad press from the public for various reasons, even if the origins reside in the aspiration of the betterment of mankind. One of these studies is the process of gene editing in an attempt to provide people with better health or longer living by moving around and replacing key strands of DNA in their system. Many people opposed to this style of treatment see it as unnatural to mess with nature, some it is perceived as unholy in the eyes of their religious beliefs, and other just care for the safety of the patients that are willing to undergo this sort of treatment. However, me and many others believe that the pros of gene editing out weight the cons. Gene editing may very well may be the secret to unlock the secret to longer and healthier living and maybe push us to something even better than that.

“Advances in genetic science could change the basic nature of human beings by allowing people to alter their genetic makeup or the genetic makeup of their children” (Kahn). Since editing human genes is an extremely controversial topic with great consequences, laws concerning gene editing vary worldwide. In the United States there is no ban on gene editing, however, the government cannot fund embryo modification. Altering human genes is wrong because it could lead to societal problems, create new genetic diseases, and it is immoral.

Ethical questions have been raised in regard to the development of the new drug CRISPR-Cas9. CRISPR-Cas9 is a form of genetic engineering that allows for precise modification of DNA. CRISPR-Cas9 works by injecting a modified protein into the body to work on DNA like scissors by snipping the unwanted section of genes. CRISPR-Cas9 creates enormous possibilities for genetic modification, and the advancement of human health. The creation of new technology creates new benefits; however, it also presents significant risk. The use of such drug raises ethical questions such as who will have access to treatment and who will it be developed for. Further ethical questions are raised when considering not only how the modification of genes will affect

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.

Imagine a technology that could possibly cure inherited blindness or allow allow a deaf person to here. This upcoming technology still in the experimental stage is called gene therapy. Gene therapy is the process by which a defective or mutated gene is replaced by a healthy copy of the gene. This process is still in the experimental stage as it is risky and still needs to be tested to make sure it is safe to use with humans. The main task of gene therapy right now is to cure diseases that have no cures to them like blindness or some types of cancer. If scientists are able to perfect this process it could be a revolutionizing technology in the future.

Gene editing has been a big technological topic that has been talked about a lot over the last few years. Is it ethical? Does it promote social justice? Is it good for the environment? I personally do not think it promotes any of these ideas. It signifies the idea that the rich get richer, and gene editing has a huge ethical complication. Not to mention that it is not the most natural thing to be able to edit genes to someone’s liking.

The humanity of the human future is in our hands. Humans as a species have innovated the world. Leading to modern medicine, which continues daily becoming ever more powerful against disease and death, due to the bewildering achievements in the fields of biomedical science and technology. The groundbreaking achievements in these field have made things possible, which people thousands of years ago, could only dream of. The present and future advances in genetic and reproductive technologies, in neuroscience and psychopharmacology, and in the development of artificial organs and computer-chip implants for human brains, we now recognize new uses for biomedical power that goes beyond the traditional medical goals of healing disease and relieving suffering. Medicine has grown a new branch for genetic editing and human cloning, which should be banned and tightly regulated due to the threat it poses to humanity.

In the medical journal article “Harlequin Ichthyosis”, the authors Claire A. Scott, Shefali Rajpopat, and Wei-Li Di explain how “ABCA12 mutations underlie defective lipid transport, reduced protease regulation and skin barrier dysfunction." The first known case of HI was discovered in 1750, and was documented in the diary of Reverend Hart. The effects are apparent at birth and are commonly clinical. The entire body is born covered in a compact layer of white plates of scales separated by deep red cracks. The thickened skin, usually restricts movement and causes limb contractures, inevitably causing digital necrosis and autoamputation.

Regardless to what gene therapy is, it has been characterized as unethical by society, and reveals to be quite dangerous. An article, “Genetic Engineering”, states, “If scientists can cure genetic disorders, they can also design individuals in accordance with the cultural and intellectual fashions of the day. Will humans know when to say “enough” to the changes that can be made with HGT?” [17] According to this article, many people are standing out and protesting these sort of procedures for not being rectitude. Adding on, many fear that this medical life-saving treatment will be used to alter the physical appearance of someone without a medical purpose. Say if in the future, gene therapy is used to modify a person’s appearance, it could possibly

Technology is ever evolving, however, the technology dealing with the gene editing on human embryos is not developing in the most ethical ways. As a result, of gene editing, many peoples’ eyes have been opened to unethical forms of treatment such as the creation of methods to select the child’s gender, the ridding of offspring’s genetically linked diseases, and the manipulation of the human DNA of the unborn embryo.

“This year about 564,800 Americans are expected to die of cancer—more than 1,500 people a day” (“Helping Families Face the Challenges”). Imagine if this detrimental disease, and innumerable life-altering others, were removed from the human biological code (Palus 20)? This may become reality, and human genome editing is responsible. However, due to ethical concerns this practice is prohibited in 15 of the 22 European nations (“Don't Edit the Human Germline”). Animals are currently used for this type of research where humans are taboo, though it is no longer practical. Their DNA, despite showing similarities, is neither identical to a humans nor accurately translatable to human embryonic research (“Failure of the Animal Model”). If an effective

Although still a very debated subject, genetic enhancement has been around for many years with the genetic modification of crops. Just this year, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou were the first to modify the genomes of human embryos in order to find a way to eliminate genetic diseases. The researchers used the gene editing technique CRISPR/Cas9, which, in layman’s terms, cuts out the bad genes and replaces the gaps with healthy genes. While this is a major scientific advancement, there are many ethical reasons why people might be weary of this new development.