Gene therapy is an experimental technique that can potentially allow scientists to eliminate diseases and conditions, by altering gene sequences. The process can allow humans to completely eradicate the spread of severe conditions in future generations, such as malaria. This process involves removing, replacing, or even adding a new gene into the body, which enables it to fight or protect itself, as well as alter and eradicate the threat.
Gene therapy is an extremely risky process, it requires picking out and altering a singled-out piece of genetic code, out of the endless possibilities, by chance. In order to do this, scientists would have to create a break in the gene and replace the sister DNA with a manmade, altered code, allowing the DNA to repair itself correctly. The application of this process, however, involves the use of a recent discovery in the scientific field; CRISPR.
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats; CRISPR. In the microbiology field, an unusual DNA sequence was found, involving a repetitive cluster of gene code, in regularly spaced intervals, which were completely different in code. This discovery enabled scientists to question the pattern. However, in a completely different lab, another discovery was made. When studying cells of a virus-attacked bacteria sample, a biologist found that the virus’ code, was copied into one of the spacers in the CRISPR gene sequence. When further investigating this occurrence, they were able to identify how immunity was built in these cells, leading them to a peculiar protein called CAS9.
The CAS9 protein copies the virus code and uses it to identify any foreign beings in the future. When this protein finds a match to the virus, it cuts the unwanted genetic material at the place where the codes overlap. Upon learning of this tool, the various uses for it started becoming evident. The use of CRISPR and CAS9 in gene therapy can enable humans to cut the sequence in a specific place and potentially send in altered DNA like a virus, allowing us to identify anomalies in the genes and fix abnormalities.
Sickle cell mutation is a condition that causes the red blood cells to be moon shaped. A single variation in the gene prevents proteins from forming completely, and therefore makes the RBC internally collapse, and in turn makes oxygen transfer difficult. This kind of a condition, which occurs due to a single irregularity in the code, can be treated with gene therapy.
Despite the logical alignment of information and the process, the procedure itself is significantly risky to any patient undergoing the treatment. Even the slightest hinderance to the practice, such as the code being incorrectly copied, can hypothetically harm the patient. An example of this is the experiment done in Paris, 2002, the lab had a test group of 3 children. Of these, 2 babies died early on, and one child developed cancer due to the failed experiment. This occurrence halted trials, highlighting the danger of the gene therapy.
It is hypothesized that the next generation of babies will be designer babies. Predictions claim that humans will be able to choose an outcome for their baby, a form of customization. It provides humans with an opportunity to make their children smarter, or more creative, or musically gifted, etc. The choices are expected to go beyond just insurance of good health, but allowing a parent to completely model their offspring. However this poses the question, will all children of future generations be similar? It’s true, everyone has their own definition of a perfect child, some may like blond hair and to be tall, and some may like short brunettes, but when given the choice, who would not utilize the opportunity to make their child smarter or less susceptible to pain?
On the same note, however, we must also question how this benefits humanity in the long run. If everyone was given the choice to make their babies smarter, [whether it is by increasing IQ, or by eliminating intellectual disabilities], then will society begin to increase efficiency and productivity? Else, will the prospect of every child being smart, enable everyone to be average? Because then at what point does smart, become regular, and being smarter reach its limit? The same can be said for any trait, if every child was given immense creativity, then everyone is equally creative, raising, yet balancing the new average. Does this creativity push us to make the following generation even more creative?
But beyond this, how do we decide to draw the line for these treatments? Cancer is an extensively painful condition; most would argue that the pain gene be altered in these patients to improve the experience, however, if we provide this opportunity to some, it can be misused, we would be potentially allowing anyone to do so. But how do we control whether pain is removed from victims of diseases or everyone. How do we control the fact that by changing and removing important parts of DNA, we might eliminate a feature we cannot get back. If 100 years from now, having brown eyes is considered superior, what is the possibility that we wipe out the gene for blue eyes, wiping out a trait without realizing what we’ve lost.
We must also consider the social implications of gene therapy. The opportunity to choose your own physical and personality traits, opens various doors for science, however, are we simultaneously building intolerance? If we gave everyone the opportunity to be whoever they want, then are we telling people to be what society considers better? Racism for example, if African Americans had the opportunity, would they prefer to give their kid a fairer skin tone to avoid racism? Building on the notion that it’s better to be white? There is the possibility that gene therapy would make society less accepting of variety, but what if it made people more likely to be diverse and unique by choice?
The method for gene therapy, the process of using CRISPR-CAS9, is currently expensive. Despite there being several platforms that allow the sale of gene modification kits, it's accessible only to those who can afford them. This implies that currently, the high costs of gene therapy make it only for the wealthy. But is it fair to allow some people to produce designer babies, and to allow some people to heal their children of disease, in turn leaving the larger population, with a greater number of medical conditions, to struggle?
The contradictory viewpoints on ethics and morality, as well as the uncertainty of science, have led several countries to ban the research. However, these rules are not lawfully binding, these regions include southern Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Eastern South America.
The foundation of the concept proves that there will always be conflicting arguments on whether or not gene therapy will benefit or harm society, humanity, and growth. But, like any revolution, growth comes with destruction. Prior to 10,000 BC, humans were hunters and gatherers, although with time we learned to farm (agricultural revolution), this discovery propelled evolution forward, however it opened us up to problems such as climate change, and deforestation. Because the human mindset will always ask how can we do this, before wondering, should we be doing this?