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.
The technology Jiankui used has been around for about 40 years. Basically it is a genetic copy and paste tool. Using the system allows scientist to insert and delete portions of DNA, altering structures and functions of cells.
This technique was utilized in 1982 to make bacteria produce insulin, which dropped the price of the drug for Diabetes patients. Even before that, scientists were already 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.
Soon after, in 1996, the first genetically modified produce hit the markets. The applications soon expanded beyond foods and led to the first cancer gene therapy drugs to be approved in 2017.
Now, we have on our little Earth two genetically modified little girls. Their genome has been altered to offer them immunity from HIV. The effectiveness of this is still being debated. It could put them more at risk for other diseases.
Regardless, a door has been opened, or rather a wall demolished. Whether for health, or beauty, or strength, or intelligence, the possibility for GMO humans is now very real and at our doorstep.
It is as if we have stepped off our world of random genetic phenomena and into a world of predictability and perfection. The voyages of discovery in the Renaissance revealed more of what was already around us but out of sight. These scientific voyages are truly venturing into the unknown.
What drives this science? Desire for human greatness? Mastery over Mother Nature? Ever since man realized who he was and what he was capable of, he has been striving to become more. Genetic engineering of humans is the perfect way to do this.
And when creating the essence of ones being becomes an art, we will truly be able to say "What a piece of work is man".
OK SO INTERESTING! I'm curious about what you think about the religious implications and if this is ok or if it's bad or what. I'm totally fascinated and didn't even know this had happened yet.
ReplyDeleteI think this researcher was motivated by the question of "can we?" This is a great case of progress with uncertainty. This is a new power, but all of the ethics around it are so uncertain. There will probably be huge positives for disease prevention, and potentials of social problems like picking out desirable traits.
ReplyDeleteLooking at what has been done already with genetic modification ie insulin production and GMO foods, this has been immensely successful in helping people in their everyday life. As it goes further I would hope this trend continues.
ReplyDeleteI think this is going to be useful on a medical basis, but I think it will prove far too complicated to change things such as personalties or looks. In religious implications, I think it doesn't change the fact that God will match physical/mental abilities with the appropriate spirit.
ReplyDeleteI think history has proven that in the modern era, scientific advances will virtually always win against traditional values and boundaries. So, as for religious implications, there will probably be a lot of pushback, but just like everything else, it will probably be accepted in the end. I'm curious what will happen, however, when someone makes a grave mistake in this process, and the child comes out completely messed up.. I think that will be the moment where some people might freak out.
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