Playing God

Genetic engineering has become a generic term for altering the existing gene structure of any living organism. Attempts are even being made to genetically revive extinct species such as mammoths through this process. However, there still are many ethical and moral considerations that should be taken into account when deciding to alter the genetic sequence (genome) of any living organism. This is even more crucial when the species in question happens to be Homo sapiens.

Scientists around the world are working with the human genome possibly with one aim in mind - to ‘make’ better humans.What if you could identify a potentially life threatening disease in an embryo and remove it through a genetic process? What if you could end blindness and deafness, at least when they are genetically inherited? What if you could cure deadly diseases in children and adults though a bit of genetic engineering? And what about that ultimate quest – immortality? And we are yet to come to the most controversial topic of all - human cloning. And last but not least, how do you work with embryos? When exactly do embryos get a ‘life’?

Now scientists and governments want to make things a bit clearer as research in this area has intensified with no apparent rules guiding the process. This should ideally be a universal exercise where the rules are applicable to all scientists and research centres around the world so that humanity benefits in the end without any disastrous consequences for the future survival of our species.

Genome

We are informed that as issues regarding the altering of humans continue to rise, scientists in the USA and elsewhere will be working together to settle on a set of ethical guidelines about the principles of altering the human genome. The disturbing revelation that researchers in China had successfully altered genes within human embryos in April prompted the action. A group of scientists led by Junjiu Huang, a researcher in genetics at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, used non-viable embryos, which cannot result in a live birth, that were obtained from fertility clinics. They managed to inject embryos with an enzyme that can be programmed to target a specific gene. The team attempted to modify the gene responsible for ?-thalassaemia, a potentially fatal blood disorder, using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR/Cas9. Researchers at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and other scientists around the world have called to stop such controversial experiments. “Given the significant safety and ethical implications of modifying the DNA of human reproductive (germline) cells, this research is highly premature,” the Alliance said in a statement to AFP. Of course, there are scientists and governments who disagree with this view. They say that some of the diseases that could eventually be cured by this technique are far more dangerous and distressing than genetic mutations in an embryo that was never going to develop anyway. In theory, genetic editing can rid humanity of sickle-cell disease, haemophilia and a host of less well-known diseases.

Summit

In the light of this incident, scientists are planning to hold an international summit to raise awareness on the subject and formulate a set of guidelines on the genetic modification of the human genome (called “editing” in scientific jargon) at any stage of life.

Although it appeared that the embryos were incapable of life, it urged the US National Academy and the National Academy of Medicine to come up with a rule book which will be regarded scientifically acceptable in the use of the gene altering system known as the CRISPR-Cas9 that enables the changing progression of DNA to be taken from a fertilised ovum. Since 2013, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been used for gene editing (adding, disrupting or changing the sequence of specific genes) and gene regulation in species. It is even possible to use CRISPR to build RNA-guided gene drives capable of altering the genomes of entire populations.

The date for a meeting has not yet been known yet a suggestion from Marcy Darnovsky , the director of the Center for Genetics and Society in Berkeley, California, that the talk should not only include those with the technical and specific knowledge of genetics. The meeting should also involve politicians, religious groups and human rights organisations who are also part of this fast-approaching field of possibilities as it literally leads to shape the face of humanity, Darnovsky says.

Illegal

As many would come to agree internationally, the issue as to when, what and whose DNA that scientists would be permitted to ‘play god’ will certainly be respected. The altering of the human embryo is illegal in many countries but can be performed in most part of the US if the government is not involved in financing.

The human genome used to be a mystery. Not any longer. And you can even access it easily. What used to take years now takes months: after buying a bunch of sequencers in 2014, Sweden’s Uppsala University has published a human genome sequence under the Creative Commons license. The data has been posted at Sweden’s Uppsala University’s Website. It’s not the world’s only open-source human genome project - for example, there is the ongoing Encode Project, which is also working towards building “a comprehensive parts list of functional elements in the human genome”. Thus scientists even in developing countries have access to this information which was previously restricted.

Technique

New advances are being made in this field all the time. For example, Scientists at the University of North Carolina say they have developed a technique for finding where DNA repair happens throughout all of human DNA. It is a very exciting field which promises much for the human race. If genetic engineering can eliminate deadly diseases and create perfect humans, there is nothing wrong about in theory. But it is not so straightforward - there are many dangers and pitfalls that could potentially be very damaging to our human race. Better technology may evolve in the future, but we might have to go slow when it comes to playing God.