Why are we still dealing with the same buggy biology our ancestors evolved? We are handed brains that blank on passwords and bodies that wear out way too fast. That's where CRISPR comes in: a precision tool for snipping and editing DNA, like patching code in a buggy app. We’ve learned that it's already tackling genetic disorders, like fixing the gene glitches behind sickle cell anemia in blood cells (Ayanoğlu et al., 2020). Pretty game-changing for humankind, but there’s a catch.
What's to keep us from jumping from fixes to full-on upgrades? Picture parents picking traits off a menu: taller, sharper minds, bulletproof against disease. This isn’t kooky sci-fi… animal embryo edits are happening now, and human tests aren't far behind (Wiley et al., 2024). Ethically, it's a powder keg. Wealthy could crank out enhanced humans, leaving everyone else in the dust and supercharging inequality (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2017). The field of Physiology’s focus needs to be more than just body mechanics… it ought to include equitable shots at tech.
And don't overlook the wild cards. Tweak one gene wrong, and you unleash a chain reaction. Animal trials show it: gene-edited pigs sprout extra vertebrae, with side effects stacking up fast (Brokowski & Adli, 2019). So who calls the shots on "ethical" boosts versus overreach? Regulators? Researchers? Or just let the free market run wild?
In physiology, it's about balancing bold leaps with smart checks. CRISPR could crush genetic woes, but lacking global regs, we'd split into enhanced elites and the rest. Chew on this: forge ahead for an upgraded future, or keep nature's raw, fair scramble? DNA's not on hold.
References:
Ayanoğlu, F. B., Elçin, A. E., & Elçin, Y. M. (2020). Bioethical issues in genome editing by CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Turkish journal of biology = Turk biyoloji dergisi, 44(2), 110–120. https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-1912-52
Brokowski, C., & Adli, M. (2019). CRISPR ethics: Moral considerations for applications of a powerful tool. Journal of Molecular Biology, 431(1), 88–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2018.05.044
National Human Genome Research Institute. (2017, August 3). What Are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? National Human Genome Research Institute; National Institutes of Health. https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genome-Editing/ethical-concerns
Wiley, L., Cheek, M., LaFar, E., Ma, X., Sekowski, J., Tanguturi, N., & Iltis, A. (2024). The Ethics of Human Embryo Editing via CRISPR-Cas9 Technology: A Systematic Review of Ethical Arguments, Reasons, and Concerns. HEC Forum, 37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10730-024-09538-1
Great post, Ethan! I feel as though this is a rising topic as we continue to improve medicine and CRISPR gene editing. Dr. Lucas has talked extensively about how CRISPR is inefficient, and I know as time passes that will not be the case. I like how you have related CRISPR-Cas9 to the physiology of genetically editing babies. While it poses many biomedical ethic concerns, I think that for clinical purposes there should be more emphasis set on saving babies' lives. But what would the cost be? We have talked about the outrageous costs of administering this to certain families that need life saving procedures. How can we effectively allow CRISPR to be a resource all people can use and not just leave in the hands of the elite?
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