Genetic Modification Goes Beyond Ethics: Background

Genetic Modification Goes Beyond Ethics
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(The editorial is based on the article “Genetic Modification Goes Beyond Ethics” which
appears in Livemint for 29th November 2018.)
Globalization and ever-increasing scientific advancements in the health industry have

made the upgradation and adoption of ethics within the regulatory framework even
more significant.
In news: World's First Gene Edited Babies
Ever since researchers at the University of Alicante in Spain came up with the revolutionary
new gene-editing tool CRISPR, the chance to play a vital role and the temptation to do it
have been beckoning scientists. Recently a Chinese researcher He Jiankui claimed, that he
had created the world’s first genetically edited babies by altering their DNA using CRISPR. He
claimed the genes of the twins had been edited to resist the HIV virus, which is what makes
the framing of the argument against genetic editing much more complex. Though his claim
is still unverified, it triggered the debate whether gene editing violates academic ethics and
standards or not.
This announcement caused predictable alarm with many wondering if these experiments
have gone too far. The argument that tinkering with the variability of a gene pool can have
disastrous consequences, given that genes are connected and for one single character
many of them have to work in unison, now stand challenged.
Background
In 1996, when Dolly the sheep became the first mammal ever to be cloned from
another individual’s body cell, fears were raised that human cloning was inevitable.
Since then horses, cats, dogs, and livestock have been cloned across the world without
creating much of a stir through the announcement of two genetically identical
macaques, Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, at a laboratory in China did stoke fears of
human cloning is the inevitable next step.
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Although, when scientists in the 1970s discovered how to fertilize human eggs in test
tubes there was the apprehension that this might lead to people cherry-picking only
high-quality parents for their children, it didn’t happen. Now it is helping childless
parents to bear a child.
Applications of Gene Editing

CRISPR/Cas9 is one of the newest genome editing tools. It can alter sections of DNA in
cells by cutting at specific points and introducing changes at that location. Already
extensively used in scientific research, CRISPR/Cas9 has also been seen as a promising
way to create potential genome editing treatments for diseases such as HIV, cancer or
sickle cell disease. Such therapeutics could inactivate a disease-causing gene, or
correct a genetic mutation.
CRISPR gene editing provides for the ultimate toolbox for genetic manipulation.
CRISPR systems are already delivering superior genetic models for fundamental
disease research, drug screening, and therapy development, rapid diagnostics, in-vivo
editing and correction of heritable conditions. Scientists are working on the theory
that CRISPR might be used to boost the function of the body's T-cells so that the
immune system is better at recognizing and killing cancer. Disorders of the blood and
immune system are other potential targets.
Around 80 patients with HIV had immune cells in their blood removed in the world's
first gene-editing trials that took place in California and involved a different technique
called (Zinc-finger nucleases) ZFNs.
Researchers in China edited human embryos to try to correct a faulty gene that
caused an inherited blood disorder.
Scientists said they had used gene editing to create a mosquito that can resist malaria.
Plant breeders are using CRISPR to create disease-resistant strains of crops.
In medicine, gene editing could potentially cure inherited diseases, such as some
forms of heart disease and cancer, and a rare disorder that causes vision loss.
In agriculture, this technique can create plants that not only produce higher yields, like
Lippman’s tomatoes but also ones that are more nutritious and more impervious to
drought and pests, traits that may help crops endure more extreme weather patterns
predicted in the coming years.
Ethical Concerns
Wealthy parents buying the latest offspring upgrades for their children. There will be
the emergence of genetic haves and have-nots, leading to even greater inequality
than we already live with.
Also, human embryo editing research may not be adequately controlled, leaving it
open to a lab somewhere to create gene-edited babies.
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Some of the key scientists in this field have concerns about the potential misuse of
a technology that could be used for eugenics, to create genetic discrimination.
But even in agriculture, genetic modification is a subject of major debate,
especially in developing countries, including India.
Most of the ethical discussions related to genome editing center around human
germline editing. This is because changes made in the germline would be passed
down to future generations.
Germline: is the cellular lineage of a sexually reproducing organism from which eggs and
sperm are derived, also: the genetic material contained in this cellular lineage which can be
passed to the next generation.
Germline Editing means deliberately changing the genes passed on to children and future
generations – in other words, creating genetically modified people. Human germline
modification has for many years been widely considered off-limits, for both safety and
social reasons. It is formally prohibited in more than 40 countries.
There is also debate that, ecological disequilibrium can be caused by gene editing.
Due to the possibility of off-target effects (edits in the wrong place) and mosaicism
(when some cells carry the edit but others do not), safety is of primary concern.
Way Forward
Human civilization has always progressed by interfering with the natural evolutionary
process. In this process, the application of Gene Editing is inevitable. However, to
prevent it from being a disruptive force, it is better to regulate it.
India does not have a comprehensive gene editing policy in place, though
germline gene editing is banned in line with international norms. Yet, in the face
of persisting diseases and crippling human conditions, divine intervention may
sometimes need to be supplemented with genetic ones in a carefully regulated
environment.
There is also an international effort led by the US, UK, and China to harmonize
regulation of the application of genome editing technologies. This effort
officially launched in December 2015 with the International Summit on Human
Gene Editing in Washington, DC.
A UNESCO panel of scientists, philosophers, lawyers, and government ministers
has called for a temporary ban on genetic “editing” of the human germline,
calling for a wide public debate on genetic modification of human DNA. It is important
to have continuing public deliberation and debate to allow the public to decide
whether or not germline editing should be permissible.
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Genetic Modification Goes Beyond Ethics

Globalization and ever-increasing scientific advancements in the health industry have

In news: World's First Gene Edited Babies

Applications of Gene Editing

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