A Discussion on the Positive Elements of Genetically Modifying Children

Humans have been around for about seven million years and have continued to evolve into what scientists refer to as the homo sapien (Drake 2015). Genetics have continuously established a way to adapt to the environment, overcome disease, and create fertile offspring. As research becomes more advanced, the modification of babies is now possible. Yet, many researchers or scientists find genetic modification of embryos is simply a bad idea. Genetic modification is constantly evolving. Some researchers are using genetic modification to resurrect the Woolly Mammoth, while others are using it to design food (Regalado 2015). As science and research continue to grow, the world’s desire for more information on genetics continues to cultivate. This paper is an analysis of why parents should ultimately be allowed to genetically modify their children.

For starters, evolution is a natural process that has kept the human species in existence for millions of years. Humans contain genetic material called DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. Homo sapiens have evolved from DNA going through a process called mutation. Humans have a total of 30,000 genes, many of these genes overlapping with other organisms (Drake 2015). With mutation, DNA has found a way to change in different ways allowing for genes to adjust for survival. Migration of humans has also occurred mixing a variety of genetic backgrounds. Evolution of humans is an ongoing process, especially with increases in technology and research (Drake 2015). Scientists have designed ways to allow parents to genetically modify their children. Unfortunately, others have looked at this scientific accomplishment as an ethical issue.

Sadly, in the United States, eight and a half of married couples are infertile, or unable to conceive children (Mehta 2000). As a result of infertility, the first test tube baby was born on July 25th 1978; her name was Louise Brown (Baird 2007). Baby Louise had been created without the use of a women’s body and was the result of technological and biological advances, once never dreamt of. Scientists were able to manipulate DNA and modify characteristics inherited (Baird 2007). Parents trying to conceive would now be able to have a second option behind in vitro fertilization, or IVF. IVF is known to be expensive, uncertain, and a procedure that is problematic but with advances in genetic modification or test tube babies, parents are able to have their wishes come true (Baird 2007).

In 1989, Dr. Alan Handyside discovered a procedure called preimplantation genetic diagnosis. It was designed to detect genetic disorders before birth (Mehta 2000). During this procedure scientists picked through embryos to distinguish the good from the bad. The bad embryos that have common diseases and are discarded, while the good are transferred to a women’s uterus (Mehta 2000). Most people think of “designer babies” as children whose eye color or gender is determined but genetic manipulation but genetic modification has much more of a purpose than just physical appearance. Instead, scientists are discovering with genetic modification, inherited diseases may be adequately removed from gene pools (Mehta 2000). Besides hair color, inherited diseases such as: cystic fibrosis cancer, diabetes, thalassemia, Lesch Nyhan syndrome, Tay Sachs, and Huntington’s disease are all examples of diseases that can be modified (Kinderlauder). Each disease is the result of the occurrence or absence of an allele or gene.

Monogenic describes inherited diseases that are affected by one gene. Huntington’s disease, Tay Sachs, and cystic fibrosis are associated with one gene imperfection (Kinderlauder and Longley 1998). The most common genetic disease falls within a monogenic category, Cystic Fibrosis. Symptoms of these diseases are incurable and only managed. Kinderlauder and Longley (1998:610) stated, “Theoretically, treatment of many such monogenic diseases by means of gene therapy is fairly straightforward. If it were possible to replace the gene by one that does not cause disease, in the same place in the genome, then the disease would be removed.”

To modify inherited disease, a process called gene therapy would be used. Gene therapy includes: gene insertion, gene modification, or gene surgery (Kinderlauder and Longley 1998). Scientists have also considered manipulating the sperm and egg by injecting therapeutic chemicals. For example, suicide genes would be injected into undesirable cells and alter the chemical into a cytotoxin. As a result, a new gene would insert itself into the sperm and egg and the information would then be passed down through each generation, erasing the disease originally present (Kinderlauder and Longley 1998).

Regardless of how gene therapy takes place, inheriting a disease is a detrimental factor to ones life. With manipulation of a child’s genes, deformities and debilitating diseases would no longer be a question to many parents. Children and adults who battle with genetic diseases place copious amounts of burden and stress on their parents. Emotionally, parents are pushed to their limit, as well as financially; some families are struggling to make ends meet (Barid 2007).

Chinese scientists have discovered a DNA editing technology called CRISPR-Cas9. Much of the research began with pigs and cattle, where scientists took the good genes and threw out the bad ones. The research was eventually used to attempt to eliminate the gene causing the fatal blood disorder, ß-thalassaemia. Luhan Yang, a scientist and Harvard recruit, was apart of the team that developed CRISPR-Cas9 and knows the potential genetic modification possesses for society (Regalado 2015). She believes genetic modification will not only benefit families with a history of ß-thalassaemia and cystic fibrosis, but hold value for adjustment in lifelong illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and even change the way humans age. Yang also expressed her thoughts on the benefits of gene modification and vaccines (Regalado 2015). Vaccines have a large success rate and allow for human survival. With gene modification, researchers can begin to understand what makes up or causes a particular incurable disease and begin to create vaccines that alter processes of a disease as prevention.

CRISPR-Cas9 has become a popular tool over the past three years. Biologists from all over use it to rework DNA by searching and replacing different pieces. With its continual success rate the technology shows promise for gene therapy. Unfortunately, over a dozen countries have forbidden germ-line engineering (Regalado 2015). CRISPR works by it uses a gene-snipping enzyme and a molecule guide to mark DNA letters and attack specific patterns. Yet, CRISPR has not proven to be perfect. Researchers have doubts about pushing an enzyme into human zygote as a fix for multiple genetic problems (Regalado 2015). Some researchers believe it to be a haphazard and should refrain from it at all costs.

With the development of CRISPR-Cas9, Yang has high hopes to work with ovarian cancer patients by taking infected ovaries containing BRCA1 and extracting immature egg cells (Regalado 2015). After the egg cells have been extracted, CRISPR would correct the BRCA1 gene to redesign the faulty egg, to create a healthy, viable one (Regalado 2015). CRISPR technology is so advanced that is would also allow for genetic modification of DNA in the early stages of in vitro fertilization of an embryo.

Many researchers are focused in on the pros of genetic modification and the advancements researchers have made over time. Yet, there has been some discussion as to whether some people may take research way too far. With this being said, countries like China who have an extensive desire to have male children may begin to use genetic modification for preference of sex. Strength, height, and intelligence may also appear to be unfair and place children at an unfair advantage throughout life (Rankish 2009). Genetic modification would most likely be available for the rich, making it nearly impossible for most of society to get their hands on the precious scientific expansions being offered (Rankish 2009).

Similarly, organ transplantation is a very comparable scenario within the medical world. Organ transplantation is an incredible innovation that has benefited society in many ways. Yet, some people could have viewed it as unnatural and forbidden it (Barid 2007). Substituting a gene and replacing an organ are both a natural process. Gene replacement would then need no medical attention following conception and a healthy child would be born with clean, disease free DNA (Barid 2007).

Lifespan for each person differentiates based on many different factors. As discussed earlier, disease plays such a large role in someone’s life but people forget many inherited diseases are deadly because a cure just simply does not exist for many diseases (Rinkesh 2009). With genetic modification, scientists can guarantee designer babies will have an increased lifespan. Genetic modification can also allow for a faster adaption rate to growing issues within the world. For example, global warming is continuing to affect climate change throughout the world, manipulating genes by hand could help speed up evolution to allow for easier adjustment to radical temperature changes (Rinkesh 2009).

The word designer babies often causes people to think of a dystopia, or the creation of a perfect society but in reality it could be leading civilization to improvements on the human species. Abortion is a very controversial topic that strikes people in different ways. Women who go through genetic testing and learn their child will have a disability are more likely to seek an abortion, especially if the child is going to suffer with a cognitive disorder. With this in consideration, it may be possible to decrease the rate of abortion with genetic modification (Baird 2007). As well, genetic screening for all women could identify a disease or disability within the mother or father’s genes and with modification the gene can be removed. Removal of the gene would produce a healthy baby and in return prevent a mother from seeking her worst nightmare, an abortion.

On the other hand, consideration for changes to a cellular level could ultimately cause genetic defects instead of preventing them (Rinkesh 2009). Researchers do not have a complete understanding of the human body, as well as diseases, and the genes that design a human being. Small changes could eventually cause big changes. In order to make cellular changes, more research has to be implemented (Rinkesh 2009). According to Rinkesh (2009), “If scientists genetically engineer babies still in the womb, there is a very real and present danger that this could lead to complications, including miscarriage premature birth or even stillbirth, all of which are unthinkable” (Rinkesh 2009).

In the United States, women are becoming more educated than ever before and getting degrees far into their 20s or even 30s. Education for many women is the reason why bearing a child is merely not an option for them. As women age, conceiving a child may become not only harder but more threatening to both the mother and baby. Babies are more likely to develop diseases or disorders if the mother decides to have children after the age of 35 (Esfandiary 1998). With genetic technology, women have more of an opportunity to pursue their dreams and to have healthy offspring (Esfandiary 1998). Education is not the only reason why women may have a child at a younger age, but also finding a partner is hard for some people. Specialists argue bringing children into the world through genetic modification can be detrimental to how a parent loves that child or the connections they share together. Likewise, parents that adopt children have emotional attachments to their adopted sons and daughters (Esfandiary 1998).

Human dignity and human rights are points taken into consideration for all research on humans (Beyleveld and Brownsword 1998). Genetic engineering is also required to follow these rules. Clients or patients are treated with entire respect through procedures and research. Parents looking into genetic modification for their children should understand their rights to respect as human genomes. Parents should feel a relief knowing they have the right to self-determination and the right to make decisions about what type of genetic modification will occur. Parents will never have to worry about violation of their rights (Beyleveld and Brownsword 1998). According to Regalado (2015), “The European Union’s convention on human rights and biomedicine says tampering with the gene pool would be a crime against “human dignity” and human rights.”

Eugenics is a word many people relate to genetic modification. Many people who are against genetic modification believe it will create a master race. However, people who are anti-modification fail to understand not all persons want their children to look the same. For example, not all parents want their children to have blue eyes and blonde hair. Most parents want their children to grow up smart and healthy rather than having an appearance similar to everyone else. Parents should be allowed to choose the gender of their baby, which could help with parenting styles and help with what parents are capable of handling. Raising girls and boys are very different concepts that many people fail to recognize. Even less desirable traits could be prevented, relieving tension on mothers and fathers. As well, parents who have had multiple children of the same sex could finally guarantee themselves the possibility of having a child of the opposite sex (Rinkesh 2009).

As mentioned originally, eugenics is thought to be related to ethnic cleansing. During the first half of the twentieth century, the United States and Europe may have had motives to create government policies such as sterilization, selective breeding, and racial hygiene (Baird 2007). People have debated whether genetic engineering could potentially breed a race of super humans and create a fine line between those with genetic disabilities, making those with a disability appear inferior to the rest of the human race (Baird 2007).

Nonetheless, the possibility of a test tube baby has been proven possible. Recently, advancements in genetic modification have grown significantly. Another test tube baby was produced with not two parents, but three. Three genetic parents were used to create a healthy baby boy, born 5 months ago in New York City (Frankel 2016). The procedure was carried out in Mexico rather than the United States because laws on human embryo manipulation are lenient and uncontrolled (Frankel 2016). New Hope Fertility Center in New York City fertility specialist, Dr. John Zhang, was the doctor who performed the procedure. Dr. Zhang expresses the parents of the child had previously lost two other children to mitochondrial diseases (Frankel 2016). Mitochondrial diseases are diseases that affect the DNA within the mitochondria. These diseases are maternal, in which they come from the mother and are exceptionally rare.

To create the embryos, Zhang used a technique called, spindle nuclear transfer. Frankel (2016:1) stated, “The method involves removing the nucleus—the bulk of a cell’s DNA—from one of the mother’s egg cells, and inserting that nucleus into a donor egg cell stripped of its own nucleus.” The healthy donor provided the mitochondrial DNA and the mother provided the nuclear DNA (Frankel 2016). These two components were then combined with the husband’s sperm. Five embryos had been created, with only one having all 46 chromosomes. The mother received this embryo. The baby indeed tested negative for Leigh Syndrome, the same syndrome that eradicated the mother’s previous children. Researchers are questioning whether manipulation to one’s DNA could eventually alter an individual’s gene pool, causing unpredictable damage that is irreversible (Baird 2007).

Some professionals argue the procedure is unethical and lacked oversight. Places like the United States have forced distressed parents to countries like Mexico with less oversight because they are seeking the opportunity to have children (Frankel 2016). Many people, single or married, have future plans to bare children. It is unfair to tell mothers and fathers struggling to conceive a child, they cannot make decisions to modify their genes to guarantee a chance to have a baby. Designer babies are not just seen as manipulation to gene pools for the change to gender, hair, or height. Zhang’s procedure has opened up new medical advancements, despite negative backlash.

Accomplishments made by Dr. Zhang will hopefully begin a movement for more reason to continue with genetic modification within humans. Stem cell research is very popular within the medical world. CRISPR has opened up opportunities regarding stem cell research (Regalado 2015). Eventually, sperm and eggs will be able to be developed from stem cells. Stem cells can be reproduced and multiplied, unlike embryos. The genes can first be edited from the stem cells to create a sperm and egg. After the egg and sperm are created, the offspring can be developed (Regalado 2015). The biotechnology work is growing tremendously, genetic engineering paved the way for xenotransplantation or the process of transplanting living tissues or organs from animals to humans or vice versa (Rinkesh 2009). Accomplishments made from manipulated genes for one reason has allowed for other medical advances, saving lives and promotion of acceptance towards genetic engineering.

Many people are questioning genetic modification because it may go against one’s religion. It is thought that genetic modification of children goes against God and his plans. History has shown diseases have continued to exist through time and certain religions believe diseases are present for a reason (Rinkesh 2009). As well, it is understood disease is a part of life and plays a great deal in elimination of some of the human species. Without disease, the world in which humans live in would aggressively become stressed with more pollution, increased shortage of resources, and no living space (Rinkesh 2009).

In conclusion, people should have the right to how they conceive their child and should ultimately have the final decisions in the health of their babies. Controversy with developing a child with the perfect body, hair, and face is a growing concern. Yet, the benefit of this miraculous engineering opens up a world of change. With extensive research of genetic modification it also holds a positive future for other scientific advancements. Stem cell research, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, human disease, and human genome evolution are all examples of advancements that can be made from genetic modification. Many people do believe genetic modification should remain legal for its outstanding benefits it has for inherited diseases. As discussed previously, no child or parent should have to experience a debilitating, lifelong disease. With science, all of the world’s worst possible outcomes could be diminished to create an overall healthier, more efficient way to live one’s life. Most of science has its ethical dilemmas but if scientists never try, society will never know what could have been. Seven billion years humans have lived on planet earth, our genes have evolved through time. The homo sapien has to continue to evolve in order to survive. With genetic modification, researchers could be placing humans on the right track for survival. Through most scientific accomplishments, skepticism will grow and will grow at a fast rate. The pros to genetic modification just may out weigh the cons and lead scientists and researchers to make discoveries once thought of as a fictional.