The idea of biotechnology and its use to edit the true formation of life has been prevalent since the 1960s when the purpose of DNA was first discovered. After this breakthrough, scientists began to insert DNA snippets into bacteria, plants, and animals in order to modify them for research, medicine, and agriculture. Since the 1970s, scientists have made numerous new discoveries using gene editing and have since created new medications (growth hormone and insulin) and genetically modified foods. Despite the benefits of gene editing, it has its drawbacks in that until recently it has been expensive, complicated, and time taxing. A few years back, though, a brand new technology was invented: CRISPR.
CRISPR is a precise, cheap and easy method of genome editing. It is ultimately like a GPS system which has the ability to edit live cells, turn genes on and off, and target particular genes. It consists of a Cas9 Protein and a guide RNA strand which detects a certain sequence of DNA in the genome (which needs to be edited). Once detected, the guide RNA inserts itself in between the two DNA single strands (now split) while the Cas9 protein is notified to cut that piece out of the genome leading the cell into panic due to loss of a piece of DNA. Now, scientists are able to modify the area between the homologous DNA and insert it back into the cell. CRISPR makes this process effective by allowing us to insert or remove DNA at a calculated spot rather than randomly guessing and checking. The evolutionary nature of CRISPR can essentially change the world as we know it.
Although the usage of CRISPR is precise, cheap, and easy, is it ethical? Is it moral to ultimately change a person's fate by defeating a deadly disease or prolonging a lifespan? Is it right to design your baby? These questions are becoming increasingly controversial and urgent. For example, CRISPR's eradication of deadly diseases such as cancer and HIV or other genetic diseases (Huntington's Disease and Hemophilia) make humans somewhat invincible and may lead to an overall population bomb which could be environmentally straining as more babies are born with an arguably longer lifespan. In fact, at some point, a person's lifespan may be increased to hundreds of years. Although Earth may not be able to sustain this growth many are arguing that this will not be a problem because, if space travel permits, with this technology humans will be able to live on other planets as well. Is this idea realistic, though? How would people feel if they were given no choice but to move not countries, but planets? Is it possible to transfer billions of people? Additionally, eradication of a certain disease from offspring may prompt parents to ultimately create a child of their liking in terms of everything from intelligence to appearance using advanced genome editing. This could essentially lead to a whole new species being created—superhumans. Those who do not meet the criteria would be killed off by natural selection or otherwise. At this point in research, almost anything is possible. The only question is if it's morally or ethically sound.
