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Faisal Maniar

AprilMarch 27th31st 2019 Commented [1]: Switch to due date

UWRT 1103

Malcolm Campbell

Is It Too Soon For Designer Babies?

Recently a chinese scientist by the name of He Jiankui announced that he had used

CRISPR, a gene editing method, to successfully edit theedited the genes of two twin girls. These

twin girls were edited so that they are not able to be infected by HIV, which sounds like an

amazing thing, but is that it really the case? As of right now the amount of information scientists

know about genetics editing is very smallminiscule, compared to the all the information that

scientist do not know about genetic editingis unknown, and it raises a very importantthe Commented [2]: This is implied as if you dont know
much the stuff you dont know will out do it
question, Is it too soon for designer babies?

Throughout this paper many advanced terms will be used so before proceeding I will

explain them. CRISPR is a gene editing method similar to that of a naturally occurring gene

editing system found in bacteria and is short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short

Palindromic Repeats. CAS9 is the enzyme that the CRISPR system uses. Virulent DNA/RNA is

the genetic material of viruses, that is used to infect cells/bacteria,by inserting it into the cell, in

order for the virus to reproduce using the host cell. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder that

causes some red blood cells to become rigid and sickle like, which prevents the red blood cells

from carrying much oxygen and because of the shape the red blood cells can latch onto each

other causing pain to those diagnosed, but it also makes those affected immune to malaria.
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Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that prevents blood from clotting, which can make the smallest

of cuts extremely deadly for those diagnosed. Amino acids are sets of three nitrogen

bases(adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) that code for proteins. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic

disorder that affects the lungs and digestive systems and causes those diagnosed to produce a

very thick and sticky mucus that can clog the lungs and obstruct digestive organs. Phenotypes are

the physical expression of genes in an organism while a genotype is the genetic composition of

an organism.

What is CRISPR CAS9?

Add a paragraph or 2 about crispr and gene editing. Commented [3]: Gonna wanna remove this now

What is CRISPR CAS9 excatly? CRISPR CAS9 is a gene editing method that was

adapted from a naturally occurring gene editing system that is found in bacteria to help defend

against viruses. In bacteria, the system captures small parts of the virulent DNA/RNA and stores

them in what is know as a CRISPR array. If a virus with DNA/RNA stored in the CRISPR array

were to attack again the CRISPR system will create RNA segments to target the virulent

DNA/RNA and then proceeds to produce and enzyme, CAS9, or another similar enzyme, to cut

apart the DNA/RNA disabling the virulent DNA/RNA. The CRISPR method in labs works Commented [4]: runon

similarly to the CRISPR system in bacteria, in lLabs scientists create strands of RNA that have a

short guide sequences of amino acids to bind the RNA to a specific sequence of DNA and the

CAS9 enzymes, then the CAS9 enzyme cuts out the DNA at the targeted location, and finally the

cell uses a DNA repair method in order to insert a custom sequence or delete the cut sequence

and repair the DNA. The CRISPR CAS9 system was a very big discovery in the scientific
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community because, it made gene editing cheaper, faster, more accurate, and overall more

efficient than that of previousother gene editing methods.

What benefits could come about from genetic editing? The benefits of human genome

editing are quite appealing, for example we could wipe out genetic diseases such as sickle cell

anemia, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and many other genetic diseases and disorders along with

reducing the the chance of complex diseases such as cancer and HIV, which was what had been

attempted by He Jiankui with the two CRISPR twins. Genetic editing could also lead to

improvement in cognitive abilities, as well as improvements in physical abilities. With genetic

engineering and editing we could even create a designer baby that is perfect for the parents.These

benefits are just the tip of the iceberg compared to what could become a reality due to genetic

engineering.

While the benefits of genetic editing sound good the risks are also quite high. Some risks

include not all cells could be affected or maybe even the death of the edited human could occur.

Other issues that could occur with the genetic editing of humans is the unpredictable mutations

that could occur as a result of messing with a person's DNA, and these mutations can range from

very minor to life altering, such as extra limbs, genetic disorders, incorrect embryonic

development and many other possible and unpredictable problems. Genetic editing doesn’t just

affect those edited it can also affect society by creating a new group that could be segregated or

or discriminated upon. So until we can reduce the risks of genetic engineering and editing both Commented [5]: Expand on Benefits and make this
into its own paragraph then expand on it
for the child and society we must hold off on the practice.
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When it comes to editing genes, the DNA of bacteria and other animals scientists have

been done so with greatcomplete success, but human DNA is a lot more complex than that of

bacteria and other animals, because of the variety of proteins human DNA codes for,when it

comes to human DNA it is very complex due to the varying proteins that cause genes to be

expressed, and very rarely does one gene affect one phenotype or genotype, so changing one

gene can lead to monumental mutations in the subjects DNA. Now editing a gene in a person

who is already born versus a human that is unborn and in a early stage of development the results

are extremely different, because when you edit the genes of a born human it affects similar types

of cells within their body but when you edit the genes of a unborn human every cell in their body

contains the tampered DNA. As such editing the DNA of an unborn human can prove to be

extremely risky and that is one of the reasons most countries have outlawed the practice of

editing human genes with the exception of gene therapy.

Greg Wilpert, of The Real News Network, interviewed Stuart Newman, a cell biology

professor and founding member of the Council for Responsible Genetics, about the CRISPR

CAS9 experiments that had occurred during and Greg asked said, “I guess the main issue here, Commented [6]: May wanna check out replacing it
with asked but said may end up being preferable to
you.
perhaps, is that there’s a lot of potential for unintended consequences and that the biology is a lot

more complicated than people make it out to be if you look only at the individual genes. Is that

more or less it in a nutshell?”, and Newman agreed to this claim stating that editing genes is a lot

more complicated than most people think because you cannot predict what will happen because

all of the other factors that play a role in embryonic development, such as environmental factors.

Scientists cannot account for the many other factors that influence an embryos developments and

how big of an influence said factors are as the environmental factors varies from person to
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person, and this is why the vast amount of unknown knowledge about the effects of editing genes

is because genes alone are not the only factors involved in the development of human embryos.

Is it too soon?

It is too soon for the general and experimental use of gene editing, because of how much

we do not know about genetic editing and how risky the implementation of gene editing will be. Commented [7]: Do not ask a question and then
instantly answer it, lead up to the answer
When deciding looking if genetic editing should be made a public commodity we have to

realizse that many traits can be linked link to one gene, and the converse that one trait can be

linked to many genes, so while we may be trying to change one phenotype or genotype it is very

likely that we are affecting many genes and that can come with unintended consequences, like

life altering mutations which could be beneficial or on the other hand extremely harmful and

unless we are able to contain these harmful consequences, which is not possible with the current

amount of genetic knowledge available, then we should not allow gene editing to be practiced

and it should be banned where it is not and stay banned where the practice already is. So at this

moment it is too soon for designer babies because the risks along with genetic editing are unable

to be minimized.

Returning Back to the twin designer twins, it has been confirmed that they are alive, but

no information on the health of these two twins has been given, so we can only assume they are

okay however, but that is no reason to justify the practice of gene editing as it is a huge risk to

the lives of those affected, even if the intentions of He Jiankui were only to set an example for
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how CRISPR gene editing should be done for the future and to prevent to twins from being able

to be infected by HIV. Also according to Katie Hasson of The Center For Genetics And Society

Jiankui attempted to reproduce the delta-32 variant of the CCR5 which is naturally found in 10%

of northern europeans and is know to grant HIV resistance, however other claim that the edits

Jiankui made were not the delta-32 variant but rather a new previously unknown variant of

CCR5, that might block to uptake of HIV, but also might present unknown risks, which would be

a huge problem since this is the first case of gene editing there is a possibility that these risks will

not be able to be appropriately treated becauseall as a result of careless science scientific

practices.

Now some would argue beg to differ that the use of genetic editing can be used as a

enhancements similar to how private schools work are an extra benefit if the parents are willing

to pay, however genetic editing should not be an alternative to environmental enhancements yet,

as along with the risks present with genetic editing the genetic identity of the child is changed.

Also the risk of environmental enhancements is quite lower than that of genetic enhancements,

as with environmental enhancements, like private schools, the child will benefit for with less risk

but with the trade-off of time while with genetic enhancements you save on time and but the risk

is greatly raised. With the risked involved, genetic editing should be held off until the risked

accompanied by the benefits can be reduced to an acceptable level.

However the benefits of practicing human genetic editing has the potential to be

extremely rewarding. If genetic editing becomes general, we could genetically enhance cognitive

ability, physical ability, disease resistance and so much more. There could be an age where we
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genetically engineer and superior human race, a human race that is smarter, stronger, and all

around better in every aspect of genetics. If we could reap the benefits of human genetic editing

then we could live in a world void of all types of disease, viral infection, genetic disorders, and

many other ailments that plague the human race, but on the other hands super soldiers could also

become a reality, which can both act as a means of war as well as a deterrent of war, as less

developed countries will not have the means of fighting such a war, and super soldiers will end

up serving the same purpose of nuclear weapons, only that super soldiers are capable of

independent thought.

Unfortunately, at this point in time the risks of genetically editing a human greatly

outweigh the benefits because we do not have the knowledge to make the benefits a reality.

There is so much about human genetics that is unknown to science and we do not have the

knowledge to justify genetic editing with the risk that accompanies it. One day in the near future

human genome editing may be feasible practice where we can live in the world of superior

humans, where we are no longer plagued by diseases and disorders, but until the risk of human

genome editing is reduced to an acceptable level, it should not be something that humans should

be looking towards at this point in time, even if the intentions editing the genes of humans is

driven by a entirely positive intent or driven by a malicious intent.

In Conclusion
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Because of the the CRISPR CAS9 gene editing method being faster, cheaper and

overall more efficient than any previous gene editing method, the genetic editing of humans and

the concept of designer babies is within the realm of possibility but, because ofBecause the risks

that accompany of genetic editing at this point in time greatly outweighs the benefits, it can be

concluded that it is too soon for designer babies, genetic enhancements, and many other

possibilities that are now in the realm of possibilitycould be made possible thanks to the CRISPR

CAS9 gene editing method. However in the foreseeable future the risk of genetic editing can be

reduced as we,slowly but surely, be able to utilize the potential that is hidden unlock the secrets

hidden within the human genomeDNA, and the CRISPR twins are the first step in that direction,

maybe not the most ethical step but a step nonetheless. Commented [8]: Conclusion can be longer
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Work Cited

Hasson,Katie.“Are CRISPR Babies Healthy? Enhanced? Speculation Takes a Disturbing

Turn.” Are CRISPR Babies Healthy? Enhanced? Speculation Takes a Disturbing Turn |

Center for Genetics and Society, https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/biopolitical-

times/are-crispr-babies-healthy-enhanced-speculation-takes-disturbing-turn.

Sorensen, Kelly.”Genetic enhancements and expectations”.BMJ Journals. 30 Jun

2009.https://jme.bmj.com/content/35/7/433. Accessed 12 Mar 2019

The Real News Network, The Real News Network, 3 Feb. 2019,

therealnews.com/stories/chinese-scientists-human-genetic-engineering-

experiment-is-crazy.

“What Are Genome Editing and CRISPR-Cas9? - Genetics Home Reference - NIH.” U.S.

National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health,

ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/genomicresearch/genomeediting. Accessed 22 Apr 2019