Why we Shouldn't Fear Genetic Engineering

“Most people don’t want to hear important truth” - Jim Watson 

In 2015, Chinese scientists announced that they had modified human embryos to alter a gene that causes a life-threatening blood disorder, Cystic Fibrosis. This was the first experiment that exhibited genetic engineering to prevent inherited diseases.  Genetic engineering uses bacterial enzymes to delete/replace genes in DNA (Savulescu, 2015). By doing so, traits are added to the human genome that would not have been there previously.  Although its safety still needs to be tested, the likelihood of choosing the DNA of future children is high for many reasons.  

“Nature can be cruel”

What does Jim Watson mean by this statement? 

In the documentary “Pandora’s Box - Episode 5” Jim Watson explains that genes can be “too short, too tall, too fast or too thin” which ultimately causes genetic diseases that are incurable and in many situations, life threatening.  With genetic engineering, there are many opportunities to alter genes and cure genetic diseases such as Sickle-cell Anemia, Hemophilia, some forms of genetic blindness and Hypercholesterolemia (high levels of bad cholesterol). Research for the cure of these diseases has been conducted for generations and has only gone as far as approving treatments that can alleviate symptoms.  Meanwhile, a technology is at our generation’s fingertips that can promise the elimination of these diseases completely. (S. Lander). 

Is screening out the undesirable, simply “better breeding”? 

According to the article “Birth Defects are Costly”, written by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  medical costs for children with birth defects such as heart defects and down syndrome, are 12 to 13 times higher than a child without them.  These costs are shared between the government, communities and the families of these children.  With the advancement of genetic engineering, manipulating genes to eliminate and prevent birth defects before the child is even born, can eliminate the emotional impact as well as the financial impact that come with these diseases. 

In the case of complex diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimers, obesity etc. that are not caused by the mutation of a single gene, research becomes difficult.  Could genetic engineering serve as a way to obtain scientific information about these diseases that we may not yet know, or come close to a cure? With the ability to manipulate the genome, the understanding of these diseases and prevention for them could stem from the technology. 

Although many fear that having the ability to genetically modify our children can “play God” and is simply unethical, is it not true that nature “has no mind to fairness” (Savulescu, 2015)?  Many are born free of disabilities and disease, while others are not.  Others are born with the qualities and abilities that society favours, while others may draw the “short genetic straw”.  If it is fair for Mother Nature to choose who may fall in the pool of natural equality, why is it unethical for human beings to alter what may be naturally unequal? Why is our society more concerned about what this technology will do for people’s physical appearance, than its ability to prevent the statistic of 4 million babies born with genetic diseases each year (Matthews, 2010)?   Let it not escape our minds that laws and regulations for any form of scientific treatment must be put in place.  In a world where genetic engineering is used for modifying DNA, constraints will be placed on the technology that could draw a line where it may become unethical. 

Many even fear the ability for this technology to prevent aging in human beings.  Meanwhile, the anti-aging skin care industry is projected to reach $131 billion in 2019. (Skelly, 2015).  

Perhaps it comes down to the fact that people don’t want the world to change, and for science to advance itself.  “You cannot stop science. No matter what moratorium is proposed, you cannot stop this work from continuing around the world,” (Illic, 2015). By developing treatments for diseases, we are in fact reducing inequality.  But where does it stop? Where should we draw the line? These questions come with valid concern, but why should this concern scare society into shying away from a technology with so much potential. It is easy to be intimidated by the lack of fear Jim Watson may possess, and some may see that as threatening.  So I will leave you with this: Without the lack of fear and an open-mind, how are we supposed to progress and evolve in the world of medical science? 

Sources: 

"Birth Defects are Costly." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 June 2017."Five reasons we should embrace gene-editing research on human embryos." Phys.org - News and Articles on Science and Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June 2017.Friedman, Lauren F. "5 terrible illnesses that genetic engineering could eliminate forever." Business Insider. Business Insider, 24 Dec. 2015. Web. 18 June 2017.Friedman, Lauren F. "5 terrible illnesses that genetic engineering could eliminate forever." Business Insider. Business Insider, 24 Dec. 2015. Web. 18 June 2017.Sample, Ian. "Scientists genetically modify human embryos in controversial world first." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 23 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 June 2017.