CRISPR-Cas9
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The bioethics behind gene editing
What is CRISPR-Cas9?
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, better known as CRISPR-Cas9, is a technology built to edit genomes. CRISPR-Cas9 allows for genes to be edited within an organism and, unlike other genome-editing technologies of its kind, can also be used on human beings. CRISPR-Cas9’s deep precision makes it possible for the technology to make cuts in the gene that previously were impossible [1].
How Does CRISPR-Cas9 Function?
CRISPR-Cas9 splices DNA sections from within the genome and uses a newly created DNA sequence as its replacement. Cas-9 is an enzyme that allows DNA to be sliced or genes to be disabled; CRISPR-Cas9 utilizes this enzyme to help cut and remove sections of DNA that are unfavorable. These gaps in the DNA can then be replaced by favorable DNA sections that scientists create with various other tools [2].
What Positive Impact Can CRISPR-Cas9 Have?
#1: Cure Genetic Diseases
CRISPR-Cas9 has great ability to cure genetic diseases and diseases that are linked to DNA. By either disabling or splicing out the corrupted genetic sequence, CRISPR-Cas9 can eliminate the source of the disease and therefore save the patient’s life. If the disease is genetic, removing the sequence in ancestors will prevent the disease from being inherited in future generations [1].
#2: Cancer Treatment
CRISPR-Cas9 can help provide treatment for cancer. Since cancer is caused by mutant cells replicating uncontrollably faster than normal cells, CRISPR-Cas9 can help edit the replication sequences; it can therefore stop the mutated cells from reproducing and spreading throughout the body [1].
#3: The Food Industry
CRISPR-Cas9 is important in breeding and upgrading crops. The technology can replace DNA sequences with sequences that have been modified to prioritize certain traits and therefore artificially upgrade crops. For example, farmers may want to prioritize the juiciness of an apple — CRISPR-Cas9 could modify the sequence of a few select apples and carefully breed them with other apples in order to increase the pervasiveness of the edited juiciness trait [3].
What Are the Ethical Repercussions of CRISPR-Cas9?
There are multiple ethical issues with CRISPR-Cas9 that have been widely discussed in scientific circles.
#1: Widening the Socioeconomic Gap
CRISPR-Cas9 can be seen as a way to widen the ever-increasing gap between the rich and the poor. Since CRISPR-Cas9 is expensive to employ, only the rich will be able to afford CRISPR-Cas9 treatment for themselves and their families. By editing their genomes, the rich can thereby vault even further ahead of the poor by taking advantage of their new “perfect” genomic sequences. This socioeconomic gap can also be widened through the creation of “designer babies.” If parents of high socioeconomic status are able to alter their baby to their liking — i.e. hair color, eye color, perfect smile, resistance to disease, etc. — their children will progress further and faster through life and will already be miles ahead of their peers before they are even born [4].
#2: Genetically Edited Babies
The ethical violation of genetically editing fetuses has already occured in China by scientist He Jiankui. Jiankui altered the genomes of two babies, Nana and Lulu, to prevent them from contracting HIV. Jiankui and his collaborators “forged ethical review documents and misled doctors into unknowingly implanting gene-edited embryos into two women” [5]. His experiment exposed the babies to unknown and numerous risks that could have resulted in fatality, without informing the families and other medical professionals that he was even conducting such an experiment. A massive outcry resulted from Jiankui’s proclamation and he was jailed for medical malpractice — most of all, this brought the ethical misconduct that could occur with the establishment of CRISPR-Cas9 to the world’s attention [6].
The So-Called “Ethical Line”
In order to prevent such malpractice, we must draw the line between treating disease or artifically altering the human species and endangering human lives or creating a “perfect” socioeconomic class that holds superiority over all others. It is imperative that we establish this line before enhancement grows out of hand and cannot be contained.
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About the Author
Saloni Shah is a senior at the Harker School in San Jose, CA.
References
- Colvin T. CRISPR technology [Internet]. cbc-network.org. 2018 [cited 2021 Mar 30].
- Perritano J, Brookshire B, Stevens AP, Gupta S, Hulick K, Grossman L, et al. Explainer: How CRISPR works [Internet]. sciencenewsforstudents.org. 2017 [cited 2021 Mar 30].
- 8 ways CRISPR-Cas9 can change the world [Internet]. asme.org. [cited 2021 Mar 30].
- Bergman MT. Harvard researchers share views on future, ethics of gene editing [Internet]. Harvard Gazette. 2019 [cited 2021 Mar 30].
- Cohen J. Did CRISPR help — or harm — the first-ever gene-edited babies? Science [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2021 Mar 30].
- Ayanoğlu FB, Elçin AE, Elçin YM. Bioethical issues in genome editing by CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Turk J Biol. 2020 [cited 2021 Mar 30].
