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Ethics of Human Gene Editing - Coggle Diagram
Ethics of Human Gene Editing
Types of Gene Editing
Somatic: do not affect offsping; the common type that is performed today
Germline: can affect offspring; therefore much less ethically accepted
Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, was sent to prison after using CRISPR to make first gene edited twins
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00001-y
Different Methods
https://www.ptglab.com/news/blog/crispr-cas9-talens-and-zfns-the-battle-in-gene-editing/
CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)
CRISPR-Cas9 is the most recent (2009) and is considered the best form of gene editing
TALENs (transcription activator-like effector nucleases)
ZFNs (zinc finger nucleases)
Pro Gene Editing
Generally the opinion held by the scientists and doctors who come up with and perform this editing because they believe we should take advantage of scientific advances
People do this for a living so their job could be at stake if people stop wanting gene editing performed on them or their child
They believe people will live better, longer, healthier lives if they have a genetic disease removed
But what if there are resulting health issues or mutations?
Anti Gene Editing
Playing God?
How does religion play into this take?
Accuracy/safety concerns
CRISPR is the most accurate form of gene editing right now
Editing for different purposes
Reasons not relating to a person's health (gender and eye color for example)
Some support editing to remove genetic diseases, but are against anything not health related because it doesn't affect the quality of life
Editing for the sake of removing the chance of removing or never developing a genetic diseases (Down Syndrome and Cystic Fibrosis for example)
The debate of whether or not it's morally wrong to take away a genetic disease or if it's who they are born to be
Is a life with an awful genetic disease worth it? "In the United States, an estimated 67 percent of fetuses with prenatally diagnosed Down Syndrome are aborted."
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/opinion/down-syndrome-abortion.html
Editing at different stages in life
Pre-birth
Is one ethically wrong but
the other is okay?
Post-birth