Genetic engineering has made serious progress since the 70s. Scientists have come a long way from cloning sheep, and what they’re working on today looks more like the exaggerated abilities of a blue Starfleet officer. Innovation has turned science fiction into science fact, and with that development, it’s time to consider regulating this powerful tool as we progress into the future.
Genetic engineering is the process in which an organism’s genetic code is intentionally altered, through methods such as removing, inserting or cloning, to achieve a targeted outcome. C.R.I.S.P.R. technology is one of its most advanced forms and currently, the technology can heal sickle cell anemia and transfer pig hearts into terminal patients. Additionally, C.R.I.S.P.R. has been introduced in food, and in time, C.R.I.S.P.R. modified crops could become common.
The future that CRISPR technology offers is groundbreaking and provides hope to people in previously dire situations. For people who suffer from disease daily, the technology has the potential to improve their quality of life. Some diseases that scientists believe C.R.I.S.P.R. technology could cure are AIDS, Huntington’s Disease, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer. Additionally, another suggested use is gene engineering infants to safeguard against illness.
But with every new wave of innovation comes a bigger wave of questions and concerns. Presently, critics are worried about misuse of the technology and its easy accessibility does not reduce their anxiety. C.R.I.S.P.R. tools can be offered to innovative individuals in the name of advancing scientific research. The developers intend to maximize research capacity and prevent resource hoarding; however, right-leaning critics fear this altruism could come at a cost. Some people believe that If the technology falls into the wrong hands or is developed by a country with little interest in regulation, the U.S. could be arming enemies with its own research and providing them with the knowledge to create a genetically superior population.
Eugenics is another frequent topic of discussion. The subject of genetically modified babies is typically accompanied by concerns about choosing favored traits. First, there is the question of where the line between resilient babies and designer babies begins and ends. From there, critics wonder about the cost of having a world with both genetically modified humans and “regular” humans. If scientists are able to discover how to alter both learning and physical abilities, that could lead to social imbalances. Scientists could be engineering the way toward creating a social crisis and building the perfect environment for a repeat of history: a world where people are discriminated against due to their genetic makeup.
Gene-engineering technology is an undeniably beneficial disease treatment method. People in need of treatments often have little time, so halting research to get the metaphorical ducks all in a row is not an appealing solution to many. The most obvious solution to this problem is regulatory legislation which would allow for scientific exploration and advancements but minimize corporate exploitation.
Currently, there is no federal legislation that restricts experiments that deal with DNA manipulation. The U.S. government supports clinical trials involving C.R.I.S.P.R. technology, however, federal money is only allowed for researching somatic cell gene therapy and not germline. Somatic cell gene therapy involves edits that cannot be transferred to a child. While in comparison germline gene edits can be passed down to children. Concerns about an unborn child’s inability to consent makes germline gene edits a controversial topic. Clinical trials are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and if the trial proves to be successful, they must gain approval for marketing from the FDA as a commercial product. With concern to state law, California law prevents companies from selling CRISPR kits without a label stating “self-administration” is prohibited.
Legislators must develop legislation targeting modifications for babies and require research qualifications with a possible background check, and that is merely the beginning.
A few years ago, effective gene engineering seemed to be a long way off. However, the world now has a very real and very powerful tool at its fingertips and there is too much room for abuse.
Acknowledgment: The opinions expressed in this piece are those of the individual author.
