Recently in biology class we learned about the revolutionary new technology called crispr, which without getting too technical is a way for scientists to edit genes. This means a lot of exciting possibilities such as ending certain diseases that hide in human cells like HIV and herpes, creating an easy cure for cancer, ending genetic diseases, stopping aging, or even genetically modifying embryos, which will be my focus today. Although genetically modified babies may seem far off in the future, crispr and the possibilities that come with it are already becoming a reality. In fact we’re already seeing the beginning of gene editing in things like GMO foods, or glow fish (aquarium fish genetically engineered to glow). Even right now it’s routine to have genetic screenings for your future child while you are pregnant to let you know of any significant genetic mutation such as Down syndrome. Now, let’s start talking about genetically modified children. In the next decade or two scientists believe that after doing routine genetic screenings of your fetus similar to the ones we conduct now, some doctors would be able to genetically modify your fetus so that it does not have a certain genetic error. This would be done to fix issues like colour blindness, cystic fibrosis, or hemophilia. However, soon changing other features of your fetus like it’s hair colour, intelligence level, or metabolism may be done to enhance the child. This poses many ethical questions, starting with how ethical it is to change the genetics of one child and even discussing how changing the genetics of one child will affect their children, and future generations Of course, this is a blog and I love talking about my opinion so here it is. I believe that it wouldn’t be wrong to genetically alter children to make them more suitable for our rapidly changing environment, I would even go as far as to say that I have no problem with the idea of changing your future child’s hair colour or metabolism. However, I believe that one of the biggest problems with genetically modified children is that at least in the beginning, they are not going to be affordable. We already know that having children through IVF is expensive and I believe that genetically modified babies will be even more expensive at first. This would mean that the wealthy would be able to provide their children with these benefits most concerningly, intelligence. This could create an even bigger gap between socioeconomic classes, causing rich people to get richer and poor people to get poorer. One question I’ve been faced with is that if genetically modified babies are so smart wouldn’t they be able to help everyone not just the rich? Although this seems possible I must remind everyone that although ignorance is a common reason for prejudice against the lower class, that still does not mean that being given higher intelligence also increases your morals. As we’ve seen time and time again, billionaires, and now their potentially genetically modified children, will not tend to take into consideration the general population, even when that’s who they used to get to where they are. Let me remind you that I am not against crispr or any other genetic engineering technology and I love the idea of being able to increase people’s “fitness” for our world. I am against billionaires and capitalism hurting humanity through the use of genetic engineering and genetically modified children. Especially when I believe that genetic engineering is something that could truly improve humanity. I also know that not all of you will be in support of genetically modifying children and I am completely open and excited to hear your opinions! If you are interested and would like to learn more about this topic I will direct you to this wonderful YouTube video by “Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell” which you can find at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhjPd4uNFY (they start specifically discussing gmo babies at 8:13).
Caiti S
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