The human body is not perfect. Some are created with inherent faults and others break down before their time. Science has the potential to make good these problems by altering how humans are made. This is genetic engineering, and this article looks at the pros and cons of the technology in humans
This is part one of a two-part series. Here I will look at a definition of genetic engineering and the pros of human genetic engineering. In part two the cons and the ethics of human genetic engineering are discussed.
Before weighing up the pros and cons of genetic engineering in humans, it's worth taking the time to understand just what is meant by the idea. Simply put, it's a way of manipulating our genes in such a way as to make our bodies better. This alteration of a genome could take place in the sperm and egg cells. This is known as germline gene therapy and would alter the traits that a child is born with. The changes would be inheritable and passed down through the generations. It is currently illegal in many countries.
The other way to change our genome is to swap our bad genes for good ones - in cells other than the sex cells. This is known as somatic cell gene therapy. This is where a functioning gene could be fired into our bodies on a viral vector to carry out the functions that a faulty gene is unable to. This technology is permitted, though it has enjoyed a very limited success rate so far (largely because it is technically very difficult). Nonetheless, it still holds out a great deal of promise.
There are many potential advantages to being able to alter the cells in our bodies genetically.
To make disease a thing of the past
Most people on the planet die of disease or have family members that do. Very few of us will just pop up to bed one night and gently close our eyes for the last time. Our genomes are not as robust as we would like them to be and genetic mutations either directly cause a disease such as Cystic fibrosis, or they contribute to it greatly i.e. Alzheimer's. Or in the case of some conditions such as the heart disease Cardiomyopathy, genetic mutations can make our bodies more susceptible to attack from viruses or our own immune system. If the full benefits of gene therapy are ever realised we can replace the dud genes with correctly functioning copies.
To extend life spans
Having enjoyed life, most of us want to cling on to it for as long as possible. The genetic engineering of humans has the potential to greatly increase our life spans. Some estimates reckon that 100-150 years could be the norm. Of course gene therapy for a fatal condition will increase the lifespan of the patient but we're also talking about genetic modifications of healthy people to give them a longer life. Once we fully understand the genetics of ageing it may be possible to slow down or reverse some of the cellular mechanisms that lead to our decline - for example by preventing telomeres at the ends of chromosomes from shortening. Telomere shortening is known to contribute to cell senescence.
Better pharmaceuticals
The knowledge gained by working out genetic solutions for the above could help with the design of better pharmaceutical products that are able to target specifically genetic mutations in each individual.
So What's the Downside?
As deliriously exciting as some people believe genetic engineering to be - there are several downsides and ethical dilemmas. Click the link to read the cons.
This two part series explores some of the pros and cons of human genetic engineering.
Read more here:
Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering in Humans - Part 1
- Designer Babies: The Ethics of Human Genetic Engineering - May 27th, 2022 [May 27th, 2022]
- Human genetic enhancement - Wikipedia - October 19th, 2021 [October 19th, 2021]
- 16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Human Genetic Engineering - June 23rd, 2021 [June 23rd, 2021]
- Engineering Illusions Part I: Religion and Technology III - Medium - April 9th, 2021 [April 9th, 2021]
- Genetic Engineering in Humans - Curing Diseases and ... - March 9th, 2020 [March 9th, 2020]
- Human Genetic Engineering - AllAboutPopularIssues.org - March 9th, 2020 [March 9th, 2020]
- Human Genetic Engineering Probe Ministries - March 9th, 2020 [March 9th, 2020]
- Human Genetic Engineering Facts - August 14th, 2017 [August 14th, 2017]
- The ethics of creating GMO humans | The Spokesman-Review - The Spokesman-Review - August 6th, 2017 [August 6th, 2017]
- Human Genetic Engineering Cons - July 26th, 2017 [July 26th, 2017]
- China unveils technology to create SUPER-HUMANS via hyper-muscular test-tube dogs - Express.co.uk - July 19th, 2017 [July 19th, 2017]
- The Scopes Monkey Trial and global warming: Same playbook, different football - Baptist News Global - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Science and Scientists on the Vineyard: Genes at play with CRISPR - Martha's Vineyard Times - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Two Representatives Offer A Look At How Congress Is Doing - WNIJ and WNIU - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- 'Knights of Sidonia' is the Pinnacle of Gritty Mecha Anime - Inverse - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- Technosplit: The bifurcation of humanity - Salon - June 5th, 2017 [June 5th, 2017]
- Breakthrough Regenerative Therapeutics Company Establishes Scientific Advisory Board - PR Newswire (press release) - May 4th, 2017 [May 4th, 2017]
- Ethical Implications of Human Genetic Engineering | SAGE - April 19th, 2017 [April 19th, 2017]
- Human Genetic Engineering on the Doorstep - hgalert.org - April 15th, 2017 [April 15th, 2017]
- The Threat of Human Genetic Engineering - hgalert.org - April 12th, 2017 [April 12th, 2017]
- Gene Editing Could Make You Smarter - Futurism - Futurism - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Immoral Uses of Biotechnology Even With Good Intentions Are Evil - National Catholic Register - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Human-pig hybrids might be unsettling. But they could save lives. - Washington Post - February 6th, 2017 [February 6th, 2017]
- 5 Key Pros and Cons of Human Genetic Engineering | NLCATP.org - November 21st, 2016 [November 21st, 2016]
- Gene therapy - Wikipedia - October 25th, 2016 [October 25th, 2016]
- Human Genetic Engineering: A Guide for Activists, Skeptics ... - September 20th, 2016 [September 20th, 2016]
- Human Genetic Engineering - The Future of Human Evolution - March 25th, 2016 [March 25th, 2016]
- Human Genetic Engineering : History - December 22nd, 2015 [December 22nd, 2015]
- 00.03.07: Human Cloning, Genetic Engineering and Privacy - October 16th, 2015 [October 16th, 2015]
- Online Debate: Human genetic engineering is a good thing ... - October 16th, 2015 [October 16th, 2015]
- Bioethics Of Human Genetic Engineering - Documentary Video ... - September 30th, 2015 [September 30th, 2015]
- Genetic Engineering - humans, body, used, process, plants ... - August 27th, 2015 [August 27th, 2015]
- Genetic Engineering In Humans - August 27th, 2015 [August 27th, 2015]
- Human Nature on Collision Course with Genetic Engineering ... - August 27th, 2015 [August 27th, 2015]
- Human Genetic Engineering Cons: Why This Branch of Science ... - August 19th, 2015 [August 19th, 2015]
- Human Genetics Alert - Human Genetic Engineering resources - August 19th, 2015 [August 19th, 2015]
- Genetic engineering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - August 4th, 2015 [August 4th, 2015]
- Benefits of Human Genetic Engineering - Popular Issues - August 4th, 2015 [August 4th, 2015]
- Human Genetics - July 31st, 2015 [July 31st, 2015]
- Human Genetic Engineering Pros And Cons - July 31st, 2015 [July 31st, 2015]
- Gene therapy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - July 28th, 2015 [July 28th, 2015]
- Human Genetic Engineering - Popular Issues - July 28th, 2015 [July 28th, 2015]
- Human Genetics Alert - The Threat of Human Genetic Engineering - July 28th, 2015 [July 28th, 2015]
- Human Genetic Engineering - Popular Issues ... - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Human Genetic Engineering - Buzzle - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering in Humans - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Human Genetic Engineering History - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Benefits of Human Genetic Engineering - Popular Issues ... - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]