Healing the worst diseases, removal of genetic defects, but also designing children, changing their hair color or intelligence quotient. Gene editing is one of the greatest discoveries of recent times.
Scientists are very successful in their laboratories, amateurs experiment in their homes. The only question is whether we should do it at all?
Is the editing of genes morally acceptable?
Gene editing is nothing new, but the breakthrough was the discovery of the CRISPR method, which was first discovered by Francisco Mojica, a scientist at the University of Alicante in Spain. He proposed that CRISPRs serve as part of the bacterial immune system, defending against invading viruses.
This method can easily modify humans (and not only) genes. A scientist can program special virus to find and edit concrete mutation in our DNA as a molecular scalpel. It can provide treatment for many genetic diseases.
Clinical trials on humans are already under way for example AGTC in the US currently enrolling patients with rare inherited eye conditions. In China it is much easier to make trials on humans so chinese scientists used CRISPR gene editing on 86 patients.
Furthermore you can do it on your own. Josiah Zayner’s Odin company sells “DIY Bacterial Gene Engineering CRISPR Kit” which costs only $159.
I think it’s dangerous, because it enables everyone to make mutated bacteria.
If you consider ordering this kit, you have to know that the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority tested two kits and found them to contain potentially pathogenic bacteria. But even the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control concluded that there was little to worry about—that “the risk of infection by the contaminating strains in the kit is low for the users … assuming that they are healthy people.”
Gene editing deals not only with the treatment of diseases, but also enables changing babies before they are born. In July, Nuffield Council recommended changes in law which enable parents to modify their children especially to avoid genetic diseases, but they don’t exclude cosmetic changes like hair color change, eyes…, or changing IQ, but this can increase the stigmatism in the society (not everyone will have enough money).
In the US 83% of citizens are against editing genes.
There is also some information that CRISPR can have some negative effects. According to ABC News science reporter Belinda Smith:
“Cutting the wrong stretch of DNA could, for instance, switch on a cancer-causing gene or disable another that suppresses tumours.”
Questions:
Sources:
Scientists are very successful in their laboratories, amateurs experiment in their homes. The only question is whether we should do it at all?
Is the editing of genes morally acceptable?
Gene editing is nothing new, but the breakthrough was the discovery of the CRISPR method, which was first discovered by Francisco Mojica, a scientist at the University of Alicante in Spain. He proposed that CRISPRs serve as part of the bacterial immune system, defending against invading viruses.
This method can easily modify humans (and not only) genes. A scientist can program special virus to find and edit concrete mutation in our DNA as a molecular scalpel. It can provide treatment for many genetic diseases.
Clinical trials on humans are already under way for example AGTC in the US currently enrolling patients with rare inherited eye conditions. In China it is much easier to make trials on humans so chinese scientists used CRISPR gene editing on 86 patients.
Furthermore you can do it on your own. Josiah Zayner’s Odin company sells “DIY Bacterial Gene Engineering CRISPR Kit” which costs only $159.
If you consider ordering this kit, you have to know that the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority tested two kits and found them to contain potentially pathogenic bacteria. But even the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control concluded that there was little to worry about—that “the risk of infection by the contaminating strains in the kit is low for the users … assuming that they are healthy people.”
Gene editing deals not only with the treatment of diseases, but also enables changing babies before they are born. In July, Nuffield Council recommended changes in law which enable parents to modify their children especially to avoid genetic diseases, but they don’t exclude cosmetic changes like hair color change, eyes…, or changing IQ, but this can increase the stigmatism in the society (not everyone will have enough money).
In the US 83% of citizens are against editing genes.
There is also some information that CRISPR can have some negative effects. According to ABC News science reporter Belinda Smith:
“Cutting the wrong stretch of DNA could, for instance, switch on a cancer-causing gene or disable another that suppresses tumours.”
Questions:
- What do you think about gene editing? Is it moral?
- What restrictions and changes would you like to add to the Polish law connected with gene editing?
- Would you like to order mentioned kit to learn this at home? Why / why not?
- If you had a disease and they were currently recruiting for a clinical trial, would you sign up?
Sources:
- https://qz.com/1185488/chinese-scientists-used-crispr-gene-editing-on-86-human-patients/
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mail-order-crispr-kits-allow-absolutely-anyone-to-hack-dna/
- https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/04/02/whats-stopping-us-from-using-crispr-to-gene-edit-humans-to-fight-disease/
- https://agtc.com/clinical-studies/
- https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02935517
- http://nuffieldbioethics.org/wp-content/uploads/Genome-editing-and-human-reproduction-short-guide-website.pdf
- http://www.the-odin.com/diy-crispr-kit/
- https://www.statnews.com/2016/02/11/stat-harvard-poll-gene-editing/
Comments
I think that if your intentions are good - I mean you want to help others - then yes, it's good. If you want to create an ultimate soldier that will help you conquer world, then it's bad thing :P
>What restrictions and changes would you like to add to the Polish law connected with gene editing?
I don't think that I'm good person to say it, I'm not a lawyer.
> Would you like to order mentioned kit to learn this at home? Why / why not?
Yes, because it looks super interesting and I may be able to learn something new.
>If you had a disease and they were currently recruiting for a clinical trial, would you sign up?
If it would be may final hope - yes, why not?
And, if it is not already obvious, yes, gene editing is absolutely moral and even should be done. Human is the most advanced creature, top of evolution. It is normal to possess such a power to change one s own code. Imagine that there no longer be born handicapped, with pathologies, even if the parents were not the healthiest and most responsible people, drinking and smoking while pregnant.
I think treatment with gene editing should be legal in Poland. On the other hand if we consider that you can artificially change eye or hair color I don't know. kid is not a toy that you can pick. What's more important that you have to give love to it and help it to develop in its own way.
I'm not going to buy this kit. I'm afraid what could come out of it.
It would depend on the risk I would have to take. If it would be rather safe I would go. If I had a cancer and it would be possible to kill it I would go. But if I could lose my life I would have to do think a lot before I decide.
What do you think about changing children IQ or colour of hair, eyes etc. Is it a good intention?
I fell like I'm not a proper person to answer this question. I don't have enough knowledge about current law regulations.
Yes! I believe that it's something exciting and I'd love to learn more about it. This kit is an excellent start for this topic, and I think it will push peoples interest even further.
I will think twice before signing documents. It's hard to answer this question about knowing what exactly I agree. I mean each clinical trial leads some dangers with it because in most cases it hasn't been tested properly yet.
Because I do not know about the Polish laws, I can not comment on what restrictions are being added to it.
If there is a clinical trial, I will definitely register and try to help research in this area. All of us, as long as we are healthy, have never thought about treating people with genetic problems.
I'm glad you found the post interesting. Ofcourse it will be great if there no longer be born handicapped, with pathologies...