Perceiving the Future of Societys Genes Presenter Mariko

Perceiving the Future of Society’s Genes Presenter: Mariko Locke Faculty Adviser: Dr. Gary Isaacs

How this all got started…. When: Spring of 2019 How: English paper prompt, and interest in the subject Why: Will this topic affect my career? Recent events: “Cured” HIV in twin girls

What I didn’t want to talk about GMOs CRISPR Germline vs. Somatic Genetic Engineering in animals

GMOs • GMO = Genetically Modified Organism • Its in our food • Not an ethical debate, very common License: CC-BY 2. 0 “GMO? Genetically Modified Organism” by Cardinal Innovative is licensed by CC-BY 2. 0

What I didn’t want to talk about GMOs CRISPR Germline vs. Somatic Genetic Engineering in animals

CRISPR • CRISPR: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats • CRISPR enzyme used to cut a selected portion of the genome • Revolutionary technology, targeted approach Image from https: //www. biointeractive. org/classroom-resources/crispr-cas-9 -mechanism-applications

What I didn’t want to talk about GMOs CRISPR Germline vs. Somatic Genetic Engineering in animals

Germline vs. Somatic • Germline – cells that you inherit/pass down • Somatic – your cells • Technology restricts, for good reason • Everyone agrees somatic is better License: CC-BY-NC-SA 4. 0 “Somatic Cells vs. Germline Cells” by Sean Wilson is licensed by CC-BY-NC-SA 4. 0

What I didn’t want to talk about GMOs CRISPR Germline vs. Somatic Genetic Engineering in Animals

Genetic Engineering in Animals • This topic has been talked about quite a bit • IE: Dolly the sheep • Technology changes quite often Image from https: //www. genome. gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Cloning-Fact-Sheet

3 Questions Who is given the right to alter genes? Are designer babies worth it? Should we genetically modify people?

Who decides what makes the perfect person? Plato suggested “mating rules” Francis Galton suggested “selective breeding” Hitler decided he would take the definition into his own hands Who has the authority to determine what makes someone genetically perfect? Images from https: //stnektariosroc. org/2014/10/forming-young-souls/posts-pic-plato/ https: //www. britannica. com/biography/Francis-Galton https: //www. historyonthenet. com/adolph-hitler

Consent: Who has the right to alter genes? Parents? Treated like a medical decision? Doctors? To what end? Unborn baby? How does this work?

Designer Babies: What makes the perfect person? • What trends are culturally relevant now? • Where do we stop? • Less diverse gene pool Image from https: //xedknowledge. com/Coverstory_Demo. aspx? id=l 1 PKAMLGk. VQl. W%2 Fqm. Ep. F 1 VA%3 D%3 D

Is it worth it? So we can add or remove a gene, now what? How does this affect the individual later in life? We can “cure” diseases, but at what cost?

Technology: How do we genetically modify people? • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) commonly used method • Is this the best way? • Genetic screening – do we start over? Image from https: //www. iconfinder. com/icons/434324/dna_structure_genetic_biology_genetic_engineering_genetics_genome_chain_molecule_spiral_molecule_icon

Should we? Indeterminate risks No one knows the future Technology continues to advance Is society ready for genetic engineering?

Wrapping up • We should caution doing the “what” before we think about why we do it • We want the world to be better, but if we fail at the “why” is the world really better? • Only time will tell what the future of genetic engineering will look like

References • Katsanis, N. (2018). Treating Human Genetic Disease One Base Pair at a Time: The Benefits of Gene Editing. Clinical Chemistry, 64(3), 486488. • Lee, J. , & Wang, F. (2018). Gene-Edited Baby by Chinese Scientist: The Opener of the Pandora's Box. Science INSIGHTS, 1 -5. • Smolenski, J. (2015). CRISPR/Cas 9 and Germline Modification: New Difficulties in Obtaining Informed Consent. The American Journal of Bioethics, 15(12), 35 -68.