Genes and Us
Do you think it’s in your purview to dictate the Sex of your future child, IQ, or physical appearance? Or are you constrained by your religious beliefs and culture? Or are you the free folk? Regardless you might be one of the few who get a once in a lifetime chance to dictate your child’s appearances, sex, and IQ. A splash of money here and there might just get your perfect baby. I feel like that reduces the value of a human –being…but well we are in an evolving world.
A group of researchers and scientists reported the creation of a genetically modified human embryo(First time in history), this was back in 2017, under a technology called Crispr.
CRISPR technology is similar to the technology that develops GMOS tomatoes but cheaper and faster. It’s like a Swiss army knife, with different tools, One of the tools is a sort of GPS for our DNA so it can home in a certain spot, then the next tool is scissors which cut the DNA on that spot, and then finally we have a pen that can rewrite the genetic code in that location.
We are on the verge of creating a sort of new species that are faster, stronger, and more adept to the changing world. With the global warming situation and all environmental problems facing the world such as forest fires in Australia and California, Increased global sea level, and new diseases popping up i.e. Spanish Flu, H1NI, and COVID-19; We need to get stronger, more adaptable to this harsh environment that is slowly unraveling before our eyes.
With this new technology, we are able to increase our immunity to diseases and viruses in our offspring an example of this is of a test using the CRISPR technology that was done on mice infected with AIDS Virus and it eliminated almost 50% of the virus. We are now able to eliminate the possibility of genetic diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Cystic Fibrosis and make a better more adaptable offspring. These are factors we individually need to consider before we move forward as species, these genetic factors will be passed on to the subsequent generation.
CRISPR is a gene-editing tool that gives us a sort of Prometheus power to alter the core of our being, it’s a god-like ability to change how our offspring will be. Are we ready for such power as the human race? This ability could potentially tip the scales of our existence as a race. Creating beings that can better adapt to live on this planet and far beyond this planet.
Our future as a race is up for a major fix-up, most of us will be able to witness this remarkable change in our offspring if we choose to go the designer route. The downside of this route in regards to the ‘modified individual is yet to be known’ the technology is still in development and all we can do is hope for the best and charge forward! Always.
