To what extent does Genetic Engineering advance a

To what extent does Genetic Engineering advance a nation’s development? Shayna Nuñez-Lefrak Candidate Number: 0472 Centre Number: US 799 The Political Perspective Group Members: Katelyn Kitay (Ethical) Mia Huber (Economic)

What is Genetic Engineering? ❖ Genetic engineering is the human interference or alteration of an organism’s genetic makeup (genome). ❖ This can include any means such as mutation, chromosome doubling, selection, or hybridization (crosspollination). ❖ For example, this can and has been used to produce plants with a higher nutritional value, and potentially increase the health of a nation’s population, among other possibilities of great potential.

Context and Background ❖ There are dozens of ways scientists can successfully edit genes. New technologies and practices such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), germline editing, ligations, and molecular cloning. ❖ The International Summit on Genetic Engineering in 2015 consisted of the world’s top genetic engineers and scientists. Yet, there were minimal conclusions and no official action was taken after the suggestions. ❖ Practices in the field are extremely widely condemned. ❖ In many places, no LAWS exist banning the practice. Instead, there’s a loose implication of avoidance.

What’s the Problem? ❖ There are several political hurdles such as excessive regulations and political indifference, that stop countries from advancing their nations through genetic engineering. ❖ Advancements that are perfectly possible could allow for better human diets, a higher human life expectancy, resistance and immunity to humanity’s scariest epidemics, improve global anatomical knowledge, prevent harmful genetic deformities and mutations, and overall increase the human experience. Alterations to the genes of humans and food will change the way of life for billions. ❖ Social/Cultural outrage and disapproval. ❖ Ethical and moral concerns ❖ Economic restrictions

China’s Role in Genetic Engineering (Global) ❖ He Jiankui, a Chinese scientist, recently went against UN gene regulations to induce a pregnancy that resulted in a pair of twins germline edited to be resistant to the HIV virus. He was faced with a barrage of criticism from around the world. ❖ China in response released draft regulations specifically prohibiting the practice on humans. Although, the scientist created a fix to one of mankind’s most infectious viruses.

The United States’ Role in Gene Editing (Local) ❖ The United States is the world’s biggest commercialized producer of genetically modified organism(GMOs). ❖ We produce and distribute many GMOs, such as 33 different genetic varieties of corn alone, as well as soybeans, cotton, etc. ❖ The United States’ regulation of GMOs is fair. Therefore, they are most produced here and have given the U. S. the ability to conduct longer transports, utilize crops resistant to weather and disease, produce better tasting and/or nutritious food, and save millions of dollars from spoiled or destroyed crops.

The United States’ Role in Gene Editing (Local) Cont. ❖ When it comes to human genetic engineering, the U. S. has no laws explicitly prohibiting gene editing human embryos, other than a regulation preventing the FDA from funding any human gene editing. This could explain why the U. S. has been the world’s top player in genetic advancements, to the disharmony of others such as the United Nations. ❖ Because of the FDA’s inability to fund human genetic engineering, universities struggle to research due to the expense of required equipment. ❖ The U. S, due to this lax law system, is home to Jennifer Anne Doudna. The American biochemist that is credited for first discovering that CRISPR (enzymes from bacteria that control microbial immunity) can be used to edit the human genome.

The Russian Federation (Global) ❖ On the contrary to the U. S, Russia recently passed a law banning the cultivation/production of genetically modified foods (GMOs) on Russian soil. ❖ Russia, in the past has spewed many various forms of propaganda against genetically modified foods. ❖ The countries’ have very different policies, yet the scientific communities are just as divided. ❖ Russia’s economy is clearly not a competitor to the United States, this is for many reasons. The money lost from using unmodified crops plays a part in that phenomenon. Yet, this could be aided by their sudden increase in their own production of agriculture.

The Russian Federation (Global) Cont. ❖ Russia has long been a clear opponent of genetic research. They are extremely paranoid about the uncertainty of health effects from consumable GMOs and the morality of editing on human embryos. ❖ In 2015, the Russian Federation advertised “The World’s Largest International Study. ” A three year, 25 million dollar study, that was supposedly conducted using GMOs on rats. The study got massive media attention, and Russian experimenters reported their desire to “find out the truth, ” and “expose, ” Genetically Engineered Organisms. Three years passed and there has yet to be any word regarding the results. Many believe the event was a stunt to raise global suspicions about GMOs.

Solutions Local solutions can include: ❖ A federal propaganda attempt to integrate more positive viewpoints of genetic engineering into society. ❖ National figureheads vouching public support. Global solutions can include: ❖ An international organization/list of principles that clearly details guidelines legally allowed to be pursued within the field of genetic modification.

Conclusion ❖ To conclude, with the new groundbreaking technology, a solution must be reached regarding the status of gene editing practices. There are too many political hurdles stopping nations from entering a world of development as impactful as the Industrial Revolution. We are on the cusp of a new era, and we are ignoring it. With these obstacles cleared, nations can advance various components of society and health with genetic engineering.

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