Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Should Gene Editing Be Performed on Human Embryos ?

Do you ever think about the medical advancements that have been developed due to technology. Now you can have genetic testing done in order to discover increased risk for disease, as well as the ability to manipulate a gene sequence. Genetic testing has been a topic of speculation because although gene editing does provide you with some benefits one being self knowledge of ones possibility of some genetic mutations. Should we be able to tell about these diseases and thus manipulate the embryo? Where do we draw the line?

Genetic editing on embryos could potentially prevent a disease from passing on to the next generation. Genetic editing in embryo could lead to other medical advancements such as how to correct the disease causing gene in the human embryo, finding cures for cancer and the ability to build replacement organs using a 3D printer (source) A study last summer was conducted at Oregon Health and Science University in which they genetically engineered human embryos (source). This study corrected a mutation that can cause sudden death due to heart disease. Unfortunately, this causes ethical concern in terms of patients safety because patient safety cannot yet be guaranteed, from the previously mentioned study. So how would you feel if your safety wasn't guaranteed by your physician? Would we be able to tell the harm it has done to our body?

Could we potentially go too far to begin altering babies? Would "designer" babies be created? Is there/can we draw a line to between medical purposes or personal benefit? 

Source:
Ladika, Susan. "Medical Breakthroughs." CQ Researcher, 15 Sept. 2017, pp. 749-72, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2017091500.

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