In the past, gene editing and superhuman babies were confined to the realms of science fiction and imagination. But today, this field holds the potential to completely revolutionize humanity. Genetic engineering is a field of biotechnology that involves the manipulation of an organism’s DNA. It allows scientists to insert, modify, and even delete specific genes in a controlled and precise manner. This technology holds great promise to address pressing global challenges, such as food security, medical treatment, and environmental conservation. In this blog, we will explore the processes, techniques, relevance, and future of this technology, in depth.
Brief History
The story of genetic engineering doesn’t begin without Charles Darwin. Published in 1859, his groundbreaking work “On the Origin of Species” introduced the idea that species evolve over time through a process of natural selection. Natural selection provided a scientific framework for understanding the complexity of life and how organisms adapt and evolve in their environments.
In 1953, the discovery of DNA was made by James Watson, Francis Crick, and Rosalind Franklin. With the discovery of DNA, scientists understood that traits could be passed on from generation to generation. With DNA revealed, life itself could not only be “read” but also “programmed”.
In the 1970s, scientists did experiments with recombinant DNA or rDNA – new synthetic sections of DNA made by cloning sections from one organism’s genome into another. With rDNA, scientists could splice sequences of DNA.
rDNA allowed scientists to copy the genes involved in the creation of insulin, a hormone that regulates how much sugar the body has in its bloodstream. Before rDNA, people with diabetes had got insulin from pigs and cows, and other animals, but synthetic insulin is purer. At this point, industrial genetic engineering exploded.
In 1980, the Supreme Court of the United States had a landmark case. The question was whether a company could patent a bioengineered lifeform, a microbe that was designed to eat up spilled oil. The conclusion – if you engineer an organism’s genome, then it becomes a technology.
During the 80s and 90s, the first transgenic animal and plant were introduced. In 1994, the Flavr Savr tomato became the first genetically engineered food to reach the market.
From 1990-2003, the Human Genome Project was a challenge aimed to map and sequence all the genes in the human genome. This provided many valuable insights into human genetics. The project marked a major milestone in the field of biotechnology and had a profound impact on science, medicine, and society.
CRISPR-Cas9
In this tool lies a powerful and versatile gene-editing technology that’s shaping the future of science and medicine.
Made in 2012, CRISPR-Cas9 has been a revolutionary gene editing tool that has transformed the field of genetic engineering. CRISPR-Cas9 is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest gene-editing tool in this new wave of science.
This technology uses two main components. The first is short snippets of repetitive DNA sequences, called “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”, or CRISPR for short. The second is Cas or CRISPR-associated proteins, which chop up DNA like small molecular scissors.
Up until 2012, scientists could only deal with viral DNA. Scientists then figured out how to hijack CRISPR to target and modify any DNA in most organisms.
With the right tools, this system becomes a precise gene-editing tool, which can alter DNA and change specific genes, almost as easily as fixing a typo.
A good animation for how it works:
Applications
Now that we have a good idea of how gene editing, let’s explore the applications of this technology.
Agriculture
One of the most promising applications of gene editing is agriculture. With the rapidly growing population, the demand for food continues to increase. Genetic engineering offers solutions to address food security issues, enhance crops, and develop crops resistant to pests, diseases, and harsh conditions.
Scientists have successfully developed genetically modified crops with improved nutrition and extended shelf life. These advancements boost food production and also reduce the reliance on harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
Healthcare
Genetic engineering has revolutionized the medical and biotechnology fields, providing innovative solutions to many long-lived medical problems. Scientists and researchers explore gene therapy to treat and cure diseases and genetic disorders. In the near future, genetic engineering will be able to cure diseases such as cancer and autism.
Genetic engineering is also paving the way for personalized medicine, tailored to an individual genetic makeup. Although it will take quite a bit of money, this approach can increase treatment effectiveness and minimize side effects, revolutionizing the way we approach healthcare.
Environment
Beyond just agriculture and medicine, genetic engineering plays a big role in environmental conservation. Endangered species can benefit from genetic intervention to increase their population and genetic diversity. By using assisted reproductive technologies, scientists can preserve threatened species and restore ecosystems that have been disrupted by human activities.
Concerns
Like with any emerging technology, genetic engineering is not without controversies and ethical dilemmas. The ability to modify the genes of organisms raises many concerns, such as unintended consequences and long-term effects on our health.
A good example is that of GMOs. While GMOs have the potential to address many agricultural challenges, there is still constant debate on the topic of GMOs (genetically modified foods). Is it safe to consume? What are the long-term effects of eating GM foods? Can GMOs crossbreed with different populations, causing consequences in the environment? There are scientists and researchers on both sides of this debate, so it’s too early to jump to conclusions.
There are also many concerns surrounding the long-term health effects and unintended consequences of genetic engineering. Researchers worry about the “off-target effects” during the process of gene editing. This may lead to mutations and unlucky health outcomes in future generations. Even though there is extensive safety testing conducted, the full scope of health and biological consequences remain uncertain. If something goes wrong, your great-grandson might grow some wings on his back!
But perhaps the most heated debate is on designer babies, where we get to modify specific traits before the baby is born. This topic tampers with the fundamental building blocks of life. What are the boundaries for manipulating human genes? Can anyone change the DNA of a baby so he has an IQ of 1000, or turns into the Hulk?
These safety and ethical concerns need careful consideration, as they have the ability to completely change humanity.
Gursehaj Glimpse
Genetic engineering has HUGE potential. This field holds great promise for addressing numerous challenges and improving human life. We have the ability to shape a healthier future for generations to come. Maybe we can engineer a garbage eating animal that can clear out the waste in landfills and the ocean. Or have personalized gene experiments on yourself using your computer.
But here’s another thought:
Is there going to be a perfect “ideal” human, where all the babies in the world will be adjusted to match this ideal human? Is this the future? Because if that’s what we’re going to do, it will homogenize the species. If we can code our genes for everyone to be strong, big, tall, healthy, and good-looking, then we will have no differences between each other. Once we “normalize” who and what humans should be, we will cut off of what has been enriched civilization, simply because people were different. Each individual right now possesses a unique combination of traits and qualities that contribute to the richness of human experience. Our pursuit of so-called “perfect traits” will result in a decline of natural human diversity, reducing the individual’s uniqueness and differences. The individual himself will have no value. It’s as if everyone on Earth had lots of gold, then there will be no value to it. Value only comes from scarcity.
And if everyone’s the same, I don’t want to live in that world.
As we continute to explore this technology, we will have to strike a balance between genetic engineering and ethical considerations. For the first time in history, we might need to make limits on scientific advancements on humans.