The development of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology has transformed genetics and gene editing. CRISPR’s precision and efficiency have allowed scientists to control and modify genetic material with unparalleled precision. This technology, however, presents a slew of ethical issues about its possible ramifications and implications. This essay will outline the CRISPR technology, discuss the ethical problems with CRISPR and conflicts surrounding it, as well as argue whether gene editing is ethical in general.
What Is the CRISPR Technology?
CRISPR technology is a genetic technique that allows researchers to alter particular genes in an organism’s DNA. The method employs a class of enzymes known as Cas proteins that can target and cut particular DNA sequences. Scientists may use this technique to insert or delete genes, fix mutations, or build new genomic sequences. CRISPR has a wide range of possible uses, from healing genetic illnesses to developing genetically engineered organisms for agriculture and the environment. At the same time, Mackenzie and Davidson (2018) note that gene editing has significant ethical implications, and responsible use of the technology is crucial.
The Three Major CRISPR Ethical Issues
According to Lander (2016), while CRISPR technology has a broad scope of potential uses, it also raises some fundamental ethical problems and challenges that must be addressed.
First, the method causes concerns regarding gene editing’s safety and effectiveness. Because genetic material is so complicated, even minor alterations can have far-reaching repercussions. For example, a mutation that is advantageous in one situation may be detrimental in another. Furthermore, the unexpected implications of gene editing are yet unclear, and the risk of unintended repercussions is high.
Second, using CRISPR technology poses questions about the possibility of genetic discrimination. Genetic information is highly personal and may disclose a lot about a person’s health, family history, and susceptibility to specific diseases. Employers, insurers, and even governments fear that genetic information will be used to discriminate against individuals based on their genetic composition.
Third, implementing CRISPR technology raises ethical issues regarding its possible application in human trait enhancement. The capacity to change genes in order to improve physical or cognitive capacities may result in a new type of inequity. The fear is that only those who can afford gene editing will have access to these modifications, resulting in a new type of genetic aristocracy (Baylis, 2017).
These are the three major CRISPR ethics issues this modern borderline technology poses. Discussing them substantively – not to mention resolving them – not only calls for the participation of medical and social experts but also requires attracting philosophers.
The CRISPR Controversy
The ‘CRISPR controversy’ is a collective name for the issues of using this technology in humans. While gene editing has tremendous potential benefits, many feel that the ethical dangers exceed the possible benefits. One worry is that the technology may be used to create “designer babies,” in which parents can choose certain characteristics for their offspring, such as eye color or height. Concerns have been raised concerning the monetization of human life and the possibility of eugenics.
Furthermore, there is the fear that gene editing might result in unforeseen effects, such as new illnesses or genetic abnormalities. Critics believe we should continue with care since the long-term repercussions of gene editing are unclear. Nonetheless, both proponents and opponents of CRISPR emphasize the necessity of informed consent and social justice problems in the ethical use of gene editing (McMullan and Dahlberg, 2017).
Is Gene Editing Ethical Overall?
Despite these reservations, many people believe that genome editing is ethical, especially when it comes to healing hereditary illnesses. Gene editing has the potential to cure or eradicate hereditary disorders that have afflicted humanity for generations, such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. Furthermore, gene editing might be utilized to decrease the risk of hereditary disorders caused by mutations in certain genes, such as breast cancer or Huntington’s disease.
Other claims suggest that gene editing is still ethical even when done for non-therapeutic objectives. Gene editing, for example, might be used to genetically engineer crops that are more disease resistant, consume less water, or produce larger yields. This might help feed the world’s rising population while also reducing agriculture’s environmental effects.
Overall, the ethical conduct of gene editing research necessitates openness and responsibility in order to avoid possible hazards (Kimmelman and Heslop, 2018).
Conclusion
The CRISPR technology has the potential to transform genetics and gene editing. Its usage, however, raises a slew of ethical issues about its possible ramifications and implications. While the discussion over why is CRISPR unethical or otherwise continues, it is critical that humans proceed with caution and weigh the possible hazards and advantages of gene editing. While gene editing has the potential to cure genetic diseases and increase agricultural productivity, people must also consider the ethical implications of its use, particularly in the context of potential unintended consequences, genetic discrimination, and the commodification of human life. It is important that experts and thinkers from different fields continue to have open and honest discussions about the ethical implications of CRISPR technology and gene editing to ensure that we make responsible and informed decisions about its use.
Works Used
Baylis, F. (2017). Genome editing: The ethics of CRISPR. In The ethics of human genome editing (pp. 19-40). Springer, Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-90569-4_3
Kimmelman, J., & Heslop, H. E. (2018). Gene editing and the ethical conduct of research. Science, 362(6416), 404-405. doi: 10.1126/science.aau6466
Lander, E. S. (2016). The heroes of CRISPR. Cell, 164(1-2), 18-28. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.12.041
Mackenzie, R., & Davidson, B. (2018). Ethics of gene editing. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, 19, 131-152. doi: 10.1146/annurev-genom-083117-021544
McMullan, R., & Dahlberg, J. E. (2017). Gene editing and ethics. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 46(4), 532-540. doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2017.05.004
