Crispr Code Of Ethics

For scientists who are waiting for an alternative to existing genome editing tools, Crispr-cas9 is the solution which is comparatively easy and effective in using. Crisper allows the researcher to edit, target, excise and stitch genes of their choice between two end cuts. Crispr has the potential to make such advances which researchers used to dream about. It worked so well, scientists began to issue ethical statements for its use particularly about the power of Crispr to change germline in humans which presents a hotly debatable issue. Genome editing in human germline could have unpredictable effects on future generations. In my view, in the way genome editing can affect future progeny makes editing dangerous and ethically unacceptable. Crispr can be used to modify the human germline that is the changes made in human which can be passed to their offspring’s and so on to their next generations which is a practical controversial aspect of this new technology. Firstly, It is because there is no empirical evidence about the safety of this process. The Genes are like the complex softwares. Editing one part of the software program can have unpredicted and everlasting impact on any other part of the code used in the software. In the same way editing genes can have unpredicted outcomes. Moreover, I believe that we do not have complete understanding how genes interact. It is evident from the recent discovery that the noncoding DNA which was known as junk DNA is no more junk. This shows that geneticists obviously have an incomplete understanding of how genes interact. Secondly, unintended mutations (off- target)can take place due to human error which could prove to be disastrous. When used in other species such off target mutations have been also linked to diseases like cancer, so these off- target mutations present a risk for the modified embryo to have disease or disability which could also have a negative impact on their future generations. Another effect of this technique is philosophical in context and centers around the intentional changes in the germline and "lets humans play god." One of the most serious concern about the use of Crispr is that it might be used for human enhancement rather than using to prevent or end disease. …show more content…
For example, people might want to have higher intelligence levels in their progeny or have desired traits such as eye color, height, skin color and much more. The problem with this is that it would raise many other problematic issues. For instance, "The eugenic movement put an abstraction, the human gene pool, above the fundamental units of society, the family".As a result, the unconditional love and care of parents for their children would become conditional and the sacred relationship between parents and children would be undermined by giving parents complete control of the characteristics to have in their offspring 's. Moreover, we should draw lessons from the history of eugenics to sterilize the unfit population which significantly harmed and oppressed the racial minority and the people with disabilities. Similarly like eugenics crispr use would lead to social inequality and discrimination for people in society who might not be able to afford the use of this technology. Crispr to edit human germline can shake the balance of nature and can have a