Gene tampering can lead to unforeseen issues when altering the expression and the existence of gene patterns. The suppression or replacement of gene's patterns can lead to things such as an extinction of cultures, races, and subjective undesirable traits.
The tampering with Genes has been an idea in the scientific community for a while, but now it is an actual possibility to create “designer babies” (Seeker. (2015, March 24). Should We Make Designer Babies? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHesvjW1bKM&t=3s). To do this must scientists break the gene using an enzyme called nuclease. After breaking the gene, scientists take out the problem section of the gene and use a synthetic sequence in replacement. The theory is that we will be able to stop genetic diseases and create better human beings. This could reverse the effect of epidemics and potentially stop issues such as the drug epidemic and mental health. However, the outcomes and effects of changing one are almost completely unknown. There is no way to understand how these “fixed” genes will be expressed until after birth. This discovery has left many opinions about the ethics of the alteration and the repair of mutation of genes in its wake. No one knows the exact connection between one gene and the others. If we start with fixing mutations, where does it stop? One might speculate that mankind might start to determine eye color, hair, and smarts with the right technology. Essentially, Man starts playing God. This leads to a moral dilemma for Christians as well. At what point does gene tampering turn to blasphemy? If God is the creator of heaven, earth, and life, when does tampering with what makes us, we become too far? Also, who is to say that this mutation is simply preventing another mutation from causing worse mutations or other unwanted outcomes.
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However, if God made us in his image, why would we struggle with things supposedly out of our control such as gene mutations and genetic diseases unless he meant for us to fix it? One could argue that he made the diseases with humans. The same question can be asked about all other injustices in the world; why would God let this happen? The bible tells us in Roman 5;3-5 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” To make it simpler, our trials make us who we are. But if this logic is applied in altering genes it must be applied in all medical treatment, and most Christians aren’t saying that antibiotics are an abomination. However, medical intervention will most likely not put one gene above one in importance and desirability. Putting desirable genes together not only plays God but it is the principle of Eugenics. Eugenics is the control of the population by putting together desirable genes. So, the moral dilemma of gene tampering is the subjective judging of what genes are good or bad. Many people would say the genes that make someone have a darker skin color as bad, as infamous Margaret Sanger founder of Planned Parenthood did. This racism along with this new technology could lead to an extinction of a race, a genetic line, and eventually a culture.
The scientific community is split on the ethics of genome editing however, they still hold that position that research should continue. There are two different types of genome editing; germ editing and editing of human somatic cells. When the germline is altered then all the offspring of the individual while the alteration of somatic cells will only affect that individual (Somatic genome editing: an overview. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.phgfoundation.org/briefing/somatic-genome-editing-overview. ) To edit human somatic cells may allow us to see how these genetic alterations will fare on a person and can give us a good idea of how editing those genes will affect their offspring. Somatic cell editing affects certain cells such as lung cells or heart cells, while the editing of the germline is a preborn procedure. Somatic gene editing has been studied for longer than germline editing. However, there is a chance in Somatic editing, that the body may reject those changes and because of that risk, the scientific community started developing the modification of the germlines. However, both methods of gene editing still contain the principles of eugenics. Both methods intend on bringing out superior genes, the only difference is that somatic cell editing is consensual while germline editing takes the choice away from that individual and all the decedents of those individuals. The International Summit of Human Gene Editing held in Washington DC still encourages that human genetic engineer should be regulated but research should continue if this research or procedure does not cause pregnancy.
These alterations could potentially cure HIV and prevent deadly diseases such as Aids. In fact, it could stop HIV before you’ve even contracting but changed the germline that allows it to manifest in your body. It could also stop genetic diseases such as Parkinson’s before conception and prevent mutations such as Cleft pallet and even birthmarks. Having these options are awesome but we do not yet understand the interconnectivity of our DNA, therefore we cannot even begin to understand the effects on other genes and their expression until it is too late.
For example, what if the gene that causes depression is linked to or is the same gene that leads to a creative and innovative mind? How will our society grow and go on without these minds? If the issue is the unknown outcomes and the potential of wiping out certain genes out of the gene pool, we could just wait until after birth and when the individual can make a consensual decision. This would eliminate the issue of not knowing how, when, and what will the gene express. To modify genes that early in human development would not only be unethical, but irresponsible. Instead of stopping a potential problem before it starts, we fix it if necessary. There are suppressed genes and there are unmeasurably ramifications if we accidentally or even intentionally alter these genes.
Edward Lanphier, Fyodor Urnov and colleagues’ states: Heritable human genetic modifications pose serious risks, and the therapeutic benefits are tenuous (2015).
Therefore, gene editing at the current time is too dangerous and drifts too far into eugenics for us to be able to continue with a clear conscience. The writer from the website Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science states “In our view, genome editing in human embryos using current technologies could have unpredictable effects on future generations” (Don't edit the human germline. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/news/don-t-edit-the-human-germ-line-1.17111). The scientists should wait to modify genetics until moral lines are more defined and until more research has been completed.
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