CRISPR EDITING TO CREATE DESIGNER BABIES By Caitlyn
CRISPR EDITING TO CREATE DESIGNER BABIES By Caitlyn Chan and Aliyah Jessa
Dilemma Will designer babies be more common in the future despite ethical views? Important Information: ■ CRISPR technology is a wide spread, growing technology that can change your DNA in an embryo to prevent genetic mutations from being passed on. ■ CRISPR editing can change an embryo to become a designer baby. ■ A designer baby: Parents can chose to modify their baby to prevent diseases or change the baby to what the parents want. (Hair/eye colour, height, smartness, etc. ) ■ Editing a baby creates changes that will be permanent for future off springs. ■ The first genetic baby was born in 2000. ■ With new DNA gene editing, and CRIPSR technology on the rise, society needs to consider: Is genetically modifying babies just another new product of technology? Or is designer babies an ethical horror?
Define: continued ■ When new things are introduced to society, people will take sides, depending on what they want and prefer. Families, cultures, religions and individuals are all different and they all have a different opinion. Some may believe it is only right to have designer babies, while others may strongly disagree. When addressing a subject like designer babies, and introducing a technical future; there will be many opinions. It is vital for leaders to value everyone’s opinion, and especially how people will adapt to new technology.
Questions to consider Questions Answers How does CRIPSR technology work in embryos? When a female is pregnant, the doctor can tell if the baby is going to have a genetic mutation. (e. g. down syndrome) given the choice, parents could chose to keep their baby, with the mutation. Or, they could genetic modify the baby to remove the mutation. Scientists will insert CRISPR-Cas 9 when the embryo is very young and just a single cell. (To make sure genetic changes will be spread to future cells) 1. Cas 9 follows a guide called RNA consists of the same mutation that DNA has. 2. The guide, RNA directs Cas 9 where the genetic mutation on the DNA is located. 3. Once found, the Cas 9 separates the unwanted DNA, and RNA attaches to the sequence of the missing part of DNA 4. When the RNA is successfully binded to the DNA, Cas 9 cuts the DNA where the RNA ends and takes out the unwanted DNA 5. The unwanted DNA is inserted into the site in a bacteria, cells keep a record overtime the virus they have been exposed to, to prevent for next time. What are the disadvantages of gene editing? - Since most people won’t want to donate an embryo for testing, there hasn’t been much testing, which results in lack of accurate knowledge. Not all body cells can be immune to gene editing. Divide society: people who have normal babies vs genetically modified Ethical reasons People using gene editing to select how human race is going to look. (Eugenics)
Continued Questions Answers Who will benefit from designer babies, and why? - What laws are set around designer babies and gene editing? - Benefits people who want to have a baby, but the mother or father has a genetic mutation that is likely to be passed to their baby Benefit families that have children with harmful viruses. (e. g. HIV) In the United States, it is illegal to use CRIPSR to create genetic alteration is illegal. In Canada it is illegal if you conduct experiments or research on the human germline. Under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, editing the human genome can have a consequence of up to a decade in prison What are the procedures for creating designer babies? - CRISPR Cas 9 TALENs PGD What can be changed in the embryo using CRISPR technology? - Viruses and diseases can be cured, athletic ability, appearance, gender, personality, ANYTHING.
The video we watched “How CRISPR lets us edit our DNA” – Jennifer Doudna, 2015
This details how CRISPR Cas 9 is used to edit an embryos DNA.
More facts about designer babies using CRISPR ■ Chinese scientist have used CRISPR on at least 86 HIV and Cancer patients. They are the first people to actually use CRISPR Cas 9. ■ CRISPR test in the US and UK have not been as fast paced as China. The public and many patients have many concerns regarding the risk of the procedure and the negative ethical reasons behind it. ■ Adam Nash is the first designer baby. His sister, and parents all have a genetic blood disorder that leads to bone marrow failure. In Adam’s case, it was vital for him to have technology to make sure he doesn’t get the same thing his sister has. Adam is a healthy baby, without the disorder, and was a perfect match for his sister. Adam saved his sisters life. ■ CRISPR has also been used to improve agriculture. A Scottish scientist used CRISPR to make cows and chickens survive in hot climates. Baby Adam Nash and his sister. Jennifer Doudna and Chinese
Ethical beliefs to take into consideration ■ People who believe in God may have a strong and different opinion towards designer babies and CRISPR technology. ■ Followers of a specific religion will believe that God gave us our lives, and there was a reason that you were born. ■ Islamic and Muslims will oppose gene editing. They believe God has given humanity knowledge and skills, so developing solutions harms our health. They also believe technology will interfere with Gods plan.
Pros and Cons of designer babies by CRISPR Cons Pros ■ Families that have a genetic mutation or diseases that is uncurable can seek CRISPR so they can have a healthy baby. ■ Survival of the fittest, is no longer. ■ Because there hasn’t been enough testing, results are un reliable. ■ Gives parents a choice on how their baby will end up looking like/acting like. ■ ■ Ethical beliefs are held to a high regard in cultures, and it is most likely they will not back down from their belief. Interfere with Gods plan. Less risk of genetic diseases ■ ■ Gene editing is very expensive Possibility child could have increased life span and intelligence. ■ Separation of society, normal babies vs genetically modified babies. ■ There could be a mistake during the procedure, and if many babies undergo the procedure, a mutation could create a mass epidemic. ■ Parents can get carried away, and instead of helping their baby prevent diseases, they use the technology to change the physical and psychological traits. ■ Loss of human dignity.
Our solution: ■ A solution to the dilemma of designer babies is to enforce stricter laws. It is important to have laws that everyone can obey. Families, politicians, religious leaders, etc. We need laws that are strict enough that they won’t be broken by people desperate for a designer baby. If Mothers do decide to use CRISPR editing, it is vital that the scientist warns her in advance the pros and cons of genetic editing. Many people may know what the word ‘designer baby’ is, but what they may not know is what CRISPR technology and genetic editing is. In order for us to change this, we should incorporate advanced genetic technology into our curriculum; and not only for high school students, but for people beyond the classroom. When learning about genetic editing, the ‘unit’ should cover the advantages, disadvantages, real life examples, and most importantly the ethical views of designer babies. ■ If a Mother does decide to use an embryo as a test, the Mother should know where the extra embryos are going. The government should keep and eye on scientists and doctors and frequently check to see what scientists are going to due with the extra embryos. This ensures trust in the scientist and government and can be a relief for the Mother. ■ We believe CRISPR gene editing should only be used for one reason: to prevent and cure genetic mutations for future and present babies. It should not be used for a ‘designer/materialistic baby. In order for people to understand this, they also need to be educated. ■ The government, mothers, and religious leaders need to be on the same page for fairness. The government can create these laws, the mothers/parents can abide by the laws, and become educated to support their decision, and finally, religious leaders need to understand to be more accepting of the fast paced technical society. ■ All of these laws will ensure trust, support, and unity in the different social groups of society.
Our solution: continued ■ If parents decide to go through the process of using the CRISPR technology, it should only be if they need to prevent or cure uncurable diseases, or genetic mutations. CRISPR technology should not be used to make a baby prettier, smarter, have greater athletic abilities, taller, etc. To ensure that this law and rule is followed, we must put trust into scientist and lab workers. There should be regular follow ups with procedures which will help people ensure that scientists are just using the technology to cure or prevent genetic mutations/diseases.
Debrief ■ When doing this project, both of us set a precise deadlines of when we wanted to finish and get all our work submitted. This made sure that we wouldn’t fall behind and then rush during the final days of the project. During class time, we both worked equally hard focusing on a specific task and then incorporating all of our information together. Knowing this was a final project, we wanted to get a good mark so we stayed on top of our work and did homework that was needed. We had to communicate often to make sure we were following the core competencies focuses. We are both proud of how our project turned out. We collaborated well, shared ideas, helped each other when one didn’t understand got lots of work done in the periods of time we were given. We both did the information gathering, and Caitlyn did the Power. Point and type out the information boxes.
Bibliography “Crispr gene editing human embryo. ” Park, Alice. TIME. Published Aril 27, 2018. Last accessed June 15, 2019 < https: //time. com/4882855/crispr-gene-editing-human-embryo/> “Gene editing in Canada. ” Schaub, Ben. CBC. Published November 11, 2018. Last accessed June 12, 2019. https: //www. cbc. ca/natureofthings/features/gene-editing-in-Canada “Designer babies. ” New Hope Fertiliaty. Last accessed June 11, 2019. https: //www. newhopefertility. com/designer-babies/ “Gene editing tools. ” Gene therapy net. Published unknown. Last accessed June 14, 2019. http: //www. genetherapynet. com/gene-editing-tools/talen. html “Chinese scientists used Crispr editing on 86 human patients. ” Folley, Ellen Katherine. Quartz. Published January 23, 2018. Last accessed June 11, 2019. https: //qz. com/1185488/chinese-scientists-used-crispr-gene -editing-on-86 -human-patients/ “Real life stories. ” Future babies. Published unknown. Last accessed June 14, 2019. https: //futurebabies. weebly. com/real-life-stories. html “What is CRISPR gene editing and how does it work. ” Crossley, Merlin. The Conversation Published January 31, 2018. Last accessed June 15, 2019. <http: //theconversation. com/what-is-crispr-gene-editing-and-howdoes-it-work-84591> “Everything you need to know about CRISPR gene editing. ” Molteni, Megan. Wired. Published January 5, 2017. Last accessed June 15, 2019. <https: //www. wired. com/story/what-is-crispr-gene-editing/ >
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