GMO Humans: Would they be Supreme? Or Suppressed?

By: Courtney Hilton

"There is no gene for the human spirit." - Gattaca (1997)

DNA holds our genetic code and governs our appearance, capabilities, attributes, and health

About a week ago, He Jiankui announced to the world, the birth of identical twin baby girls. This, however, was not your average birthday. In many ways, it was the birth of an entirely new era. These baby girls are the first genetically modified humans ever born, and the implications to humankind are massive.At this turn in human history, serious evaluation of policy needs to take place. This technology is too dangerous, the world is too hungry, and society is too divided to introduce another “us vs. them” dilemma. Because of these problems, genetically altered human embryos should not be allowed to be brought to full term.

Background

CRISPR is a section of bacterial DNA that can act as a genome cut and paste tool. Scientist have been exploiting its properties for about 40 years to alter the genome of an organism. Using the system allows scientist to insert and delete portions of DNA, altering the structures and functions of cells.

This is the same technology that was used to create GMO produce. Early on, scientists were seeing the possible direction of this science towards the editing of the human genome. Conferences were called, and the consensus was that if that were to be attempted, it should wait.

The discovery of CRISPR was happening during a huge boom in genetic technology. This was aided by progress in computer technology occurring at the same time which allowed scientists to manage and process the masses of data coming in from genetic coding.

Now, we have on our little Earth two genetically modified little girls. Their genome has been altered to offer them immunity from HIV by removing the gene that codes for the one of the necessary cell receptors that the virus binds to, although the effectiveness of this is still being debated. 

My boyfriend is an identical twin. Although he have the same genes, they are each very different, special individuals. Imagining that the reason for them being twins is so that the science won't be messed up if one of them died is heart-breaking. My heart goes out for those two girls who will be poked and prodded until they are 18 without the choice to refuse.

Worst Case Scenarios

Even though this technology is fairly new, it has been on the minds of geneticists for a long time. It has also been on the minds of science fiction creators. A quick google search pulls up a long list of movies and books depicting many of the ways that genetically engineering humans can go wrong. Although these stories are meant to entertain, their new possibility for reality puts them in a new light. 

These creators have been thorough. Plots range from the natural born individuals trying to blend in with a genetically engineered society (Gattaca, 1997), to genetically engineered clones living in a separate society waiting to be harvested in case their “natural” copies need organ transplants (The Island, 2005).

Superhuman or Subhuman?

These plots, though fictional, bring up a very interesting sociological issue. Are genetically engineered individuals going to be treated differently than us? If so, will they be preferred? Or the subjects of prejudice?

The first question is answered all too easily. Human beings have a nasty tendency to differentiate between an “Us” and a “Them” group. This has been happening since the beginning of time but was driven to an extreme when the world grew across the ocean as voyages of discovery lead explorers like Sir Walter Raleigh to find new places and new people.

Our country is still recovering from the hurt those prejudices caused and still cause the native inhabitants of America. Even that may be overshadowed by the ghosts of slavery still following us.

 Can we create Super-humans? 

We haven’t even grown out of racism. How are we supposed to handle creating an altered species when we haven’t even figured out how to treat our own fairly? We think so highly of ourselves that anything “new” becomes something “less” in our minds.

We’ve Seen This Before

The world was perfectly primed by history and the media to fear the idea of genetically altered humans. A few years ago, the fear was of Artificial Intelligences walking the earth. That fear simply had to transfer, which was made easy by the similarities between these worries.

One only has to glance at the news to see how volatile the world is today. Those world leaders we look to for protection from future threats are keeping secrets from each other and even from their own citizens. Placing faith in them seems very dangerous.

Maybe regulations could be placed that would make sure it was under control? Perhaps, but regulations governing human life have gone wrong before. In 1979 Chinese government passed laws restricting the number children couples could have to one. These regulations seemed appeared to be helpful, aimed at aiding the overpopulation of China. To this day however, female fetuses are aborted as male children are preferable to many couples. Regulations on human life often have negative consequences.

Opportunity Cost

What about the benefits though? Gene editing offers potential solutions we have been seeking for centuries: cures for AIDS, cancer, and tuberculosis just to name a few. Eradicating these killing diseases would completely change the world. Are we sacrificing those results if we abandon changing our DNA?

A search of the literature shows that we are on our way to those solutions using other methods. Specifically, CRISPR is being used to alter the genes of various viruses that can then attack cancerous cells or draw immune cells to the area.

Conclusion

There are too many ways for this to go wrong, we can't trust our leaders to effectively regulate it, and there are better, safer methods to meet the main goal of ridding humanity of deadly diseases to justify the risks of genetically altering the human genome. CRISPR technology should be restricted to non-humans.

Image Credit: 
DNA. CC0. no attribution required
Gattaca (1997) DVD cover. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The Island (2005) Movie poster. North America: Dreamworks, fair use
Superman. CC 4.9 BY-NC

Sources

“CRISPR Timeline.” Broad Institute, 7 Dec. 2018

Jacobsen, Rowan. “A Brief History of Gene Editing.” Pacific Standard, Pacific Standard, 20 June 2018

Regalado, Antonio. “EXCLUSIVE: Chinese Scientists Are Creating CRISPR Babies.” MIT Technology Review, MIT Technology Review, 26 Nov. 2018

Raleigh, Walter. The Discovery of Guiana. Dodo Press, 2010.

Wire, CNN. “Scientist Says He Used Gene-Editing Tool to Essentially Create World's First Genetically Modified Humans.” myfox8.Com, myfox8.Com, 2 Dec. 2018,