Gene editing, being a fairly new concept, is the method of modifying the human genome for a desired phenotype. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a Nobel peace prize winning genetic engineering tool that is capable of extracting the genetic material and replacing it with the desired sequence of nucleic acids with the help of enzymes. Although it can theoretically be used to rid the world of deadly hereditary diseases, genetic disorders, and harmful mutations, the risk involved with such unfamiliar ideology may outweigh any alleged positive outcome. Along with the risk of the unknown is the biological, ecological, and social responses to this new idea. The only question of importance relating to this matter is if it is even worth the risk of seeing what this new technology is capable of.
Biological effects
The biological effects of using CRISPR for gene editing is probably one of the biggest ethical and moral concerns discussed. Because of the novelty of gene editing, little is known about the short-term and long-term effects of any editing. The range of possibilities lies between having an unnoticed missense mutation to creating an obscure disease in the patient. Clinical trials will be watched under a close eye considering CRISPR therapy studies have only been approved for patients with sickle cell disease. On the other hand, illegal trials such as the “CRISPR babies” trial is an example of just what CRISPR could do. Although the technology was used to provide HIV resistance to 3 children, the progression of their development has not been disclosed due to the ethical concerns. It is difficult to say how much of an impact, positive or negative, CRISPR could have therapeutically because factors such as the size of the gene removed or the pre-existing conditions of the patient would all vary depending on the patient and the kind of treatment. Due to epigenetics alone, the risk of manipulating a genome and not knowing the million different effects it could have is a big scare in the science community. Even if the therapy was successful and no negative side effects were observed, how can we be certain that the gene will be expressed and not silenced?
Genome editing may even go beyond human and animal gene editing. If approval for clinical trials is granted, crop genomes will most likely be manipulated alongside animals and humans. Using this technology for purposes beyond medicine is a whole other reason for concern because the same problems apply in addition to newer concerns. What are the effects of consuming a crop that has undergone CRISPR treatment? How will new mutations in crops interact with humans and animals? All of these questions are valid, but none of them have real answers. At a biological scale, much is to be discovered about the effects of CRISPR.
Ecological effects
The ecological effects of gene editing are unknown. Until further testing, nothing can be said as to the impacts it may or may not have. However, many varying perspectives on this topic can be discussed and dissected as we digest the gravity of CRISPR. The possibilities that can come of this new technology, for instance modifying the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere or enhancing drought resistance in crops- are vast. However, changes to one genome can create millions of ripple effects into the environment which may just come back in waves. If a drought resistant plant replaced the plants in the environment today, they would survive longer, providing more nutrition to the food web it supports and increasing the biomass. Although it looks like an ideal solution with great feedback, it is not perfect. Would this plant need more nutrients and water to be sustained? Can the soil sustain the new plant without getting drained of its nutrients? Can the plant maintain all of its mutualistic relationships? If not, will this cause a disruption to another food web? All of these must be taken into consideration before any clinical trials begin in this region. This technology may even reach a point where soil, sun, and water are no longer required for the growth of plants. This small example of the effects of gene editing on the environment does not include the possibility of disease and mutation. These exact concerns could very well apply to animals that have been genetically edited. Human genome editing will cause a much larger uprising in the environment depending on the extent this technology is taken on mankind. CRISPR has the capacity to change our world as we know it, and once implemented in society, the environment will never be the same again.
Social effects
CRISPR gene editing is slowly manifesting its way into our world and it is creating many social dilemmas, but not just in the science community. Because gene editing is posing as the newest solution to many unsolved medical mysteries- cancer, diabetes, HIV, etc. - it also poses many threats to the integrity of the science community, authenticity of future generations, social divisions of minorities, and biodiversity of every species on the planet. The capabilities of this new technology are being explored by many scientists around the world, however due to the restrictions around CRISPR, the lengths some scientists will go to investigate it, regardless of the consequences, leads us to believe that the intentions of these scientists may be dubious. The fame and success stories that can come from this may just be enough motivation for some scientists to perform illegal trials like “CRISPR babies”. These problems are only a concern because of the restrictions surrounding CRISPR, but if those restrictions were to be removed, the last thing anybody would be worrying about is the intentions of the scientists. Once this tool is used multiple times and shown successful, some may start to use it for recreational purposes. New parents can quite literally hand pick their childrens looks, thus introducing another handful of problems. Decreasing the mutations and diversity of people as well as reintroducing social divisions, phenotypes chosen for gene editing, amongst the population will be the first of many uproars as a result of the changes CRISPR is said to bring. All of these concerns apply to animals and plants. Modifying a pet dog to be smaller or a species of highly exported fish to be bigger in size. Small changes like these are what will make our world look unrecognizable after just a few years of CRISPR gene editing.
New scientific advancements come and go every day, but CRISPR’s potential to change every aspect of the world brings up the question, is it better to open the pandoras box and potentially save millions of lives or keep it closed and avoid all of the risk and concern that is to come? Because once the box is opened, the line between what should be changed and what should remain the same becomes very thin. Technology such as this one is exactly what feeds the greed and power that every country looks for, which is why the world can not be trusted with this kind of power yet. Depending on who is using it, this technology could save lives and make miracles in the medicine world or be used for biological warfare.
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