Gene Editing- Its high time that we start thinking ?

Gene Editing is a process to make a tiny controlled change in the DNA of a living being to make a Genetic Modified Organism.

Gene editing was in news this November when a Chinese scientist announced that he had altered the genes of two baby girls when they were embryos (Germline). There are three types in which gene editing can be accomplished somatic, germline and cloning.1) Editing the germline cells, meaning the changes will be passed down to their children. 2)The other type gene editing involves somatic cells, which aren’t inherited by future generations.3) Cloning creates a copy of an organism.

I agree with those who say this scientist went too far. But something good can come from his work if it encourages more people to learn and talk about gene editing.While the human genome map gave us the ability to read all three billion letters of our genetic code, we now have the power to edit the human genome as well. Thanks in part to a chance discovery by researchers working to improve quality of rice yield, scientists can now enter human cells, selectively snip out sections of code, and then incorporate new sequences permanently in the genome. Like any new technological innovation, this will also attract a lot of people with varied intentions.

With technological advancements like CRISPR within a few years it will be possible for scientists to target a particular faulty gene and boost the requirements. There might be also advancements in which an entire bloodline can be changed. This gives a chance to have technology only for the richer. This gives room for a lot of ethical and moral questions. Humans are not machines that they can be repaired and modified by upgrading from time to time. Gene editing can give raise to inequality in society.

This is time when the people should start giving more attention to Genetics equal to AI, ML etc. Technology is a boon and finally it is upto a knife user that he uses a knife for saving or finishing a life. But whatever it is Gene Editing should finally be a important subject for debate and closure.