Is Human Gene Editing Acceptable?

Imagine a world where cancer, diabetes, and other diseases are things of the past. A world where the threat of inherited illnesses no longer looms over families, saving millions of individuals from their demise. A world where all crops are resistant to harsh conditions– even crops that grow in drought-stricken areas like the Great Plains, or in places where it rains excessively, such as Northeastern India and Columbia– feeding and possibly even saving the lives of millions of hungry individuals around the world. While it may seem like it, this is not a scene from a utopian sci-fi movie; it's the potential future offered by gene editing. Gene editing has quickly gained popularity over the years and has clear potential to be influential in several fields. However, there are still reservations about the use of this new technology, such as whether it is safe or ethical. Yet, upon closer examination, it is evident that gene editing is arguably acceptable in our society. 

While there have been apprehensions about the concept of gene editing, we see that multiple treatments that we now take for granted today faced controversy when they were introduced. For example, we are so used to the idea of heart transplants today. However, when it was introduced, it faced a myriad of ethical concerns and complaints, such as, as NIH.gov demonstrates, “The ethical dilemma… if the donors are actually dead when they are declared dead by cardiocirculatory death criteria for organ procurement.” It is evident that while the controversy surrounding gene editing may in itself seem like a strong enough reason to shut it down, these concerns are, in fact, expected, and don’t mean that we should stop exploring, experimenting, and developing these new ideas.

Perhaps the most common argument against gene editing is that it is unethical. The Collector writes, “Some people believe that it is a helpful tool… Others believe that it is morally wrong to ‘play with God’ and change a person's DNA.” However, as the National Center for Biotechnology Information writes, “From a theological perspective, helping humankind is the basic goal of science and is part of God’s desire for cooperation with mankind,” showing that science is built on the desire to benefit and improve the quality of human life, which is something that gene editing offers. That being said, society won’t be able to ensure that human gene editing is ethical if they don’t put efforts towards making it so. According to BMJ Journals, “Genome editing is only morally permissible if it is 'carried out in a manner and for a purpose that is intended to secure the welfare of and is consistent with the welfare of a person who may be born.” This shows that if we impose constraints and regulations to limit this new technology, we can ensure that gene editing impacts our world for the better.

When a new idea is implemented, it should be safe for all the individuals involved. And gene editing is no exception. Gene editing is generally thought to be unsafe. MedicinePlus writes, “The earliest studies showed that gene therapy could have very serious health risks, such as toxicity, inflammation, and cancer.” However, this only serves as a further reason why we should pursue human gene editing research. As gene editing is only in its infancy, it is intuitive that there will be potential risks or concerns. But if we develop this new idea and keep on improving it, we will likely be able to decrease the risks associated. Indeed, MedicinePlus continues, “Since then [when the earliest studies showed gene editing could be dangerous], researchers have studied the mechanisms and developed improved techniques that are less likely to cause dangerous immune reactions or cancer.” This clearly shows that while gene editing may seem too dangerous to invest further time into, if we stick with this idea, we will be able to take measures to improve it in the future.

Regarding gene editing, the potential risks are often magnified, overshadowing the numerous benefits. Bayer.com informs, “CRISPR [gene editing] has rapidly become the most popular gene-editing tool among scientists in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and microbiology.” Mayo Clinic adds, “Gene therapy holds promise for treating a wide range of diseases, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, hemophilia and AIDS.” In fact, just recently, the FDA approved two gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) in humans. Diseases such as cancer are some of the biggest killers in our world. NCBI.com asserts that “Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide behind cardiovascular disease.” If looking into this new technology would allow doctors to cure (or even find additional treatments to fight) diseases such as cancer, the number of lives saved would far outweigh any other disadvantages of gene editing. Traditionally, medicines have only been capable of treating ailments. However, gene editing has the potential to cure them.

 In conclusion, gene editing, much like any pioneering medical advancement, faces its share of skepticism and ethical dilemmas. Yet, we cannot overlook the immense potential it holds for transforming lives, from curing fatal diseases to revolutionizing agriculture. By responsibly navigating its ethical and safety concerns, we could step into a future where the once unimaginable becomes a reality. In the grand scheme of things, we might just find that this innovative technology “edits” our world for the better!