Genetic Modification - Part II: Human Genetic Engineering - Yes, No, or Maybe a Little
What scares many people, when discussing the power of technology to alter and edit genetic code, is the concern of how far limits will be placed. In general, once our scientific and technological capabilities expand to a new level, the scope of industry often continues to go farther than what was originally imagined. This expansion provides the way for innovation and progress to occur, yet it can also raise difficult questions, or lead to unintended consequences. This question of where to place the limits will continue to be echoed in future discussions on genetic modification and other futuristic technologies. This is especially relevant now as DNA-editing technology has become faster, easier and more precise with "zinc fingers", or the CRISPR complex molecules, as described in the previous blog post.
Several CRISPR-based DNA-editing companies, such as Crispr Therapeutics are working on developing new treatments and/or a potential cure for previously incurable hereditary conditions (e.g. sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia). These endeavors seem promising to address these conditions, however, this may be tempered by the fact that often the long-term organ-damaging effects of genetic conditions are irreversible. It is easy to see the benefit of administering treatment as early as possible, before the disease can start to manifest its harmful effects at birth.
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