Introduction
Scientists around the globe are debating on the better ways in which they can research and advance gene-editing technology. Genetic engineering is the precise form of gene-editing, whereby professionals use bacteria enzymes to locate genes in the DNA, subsequently replacing or deleting them. According to Gyngell et al., scientists use genetic modification as the primary option for modifying the human embryos to fit into the specific outlines and anticipated qualities which the parents expect their infant to obtain (499). Globally, the practice is seen as a critical strategy towards eradicating the devastating genes in different families and commencing to emulate excellent and discernible traits. Genes affiliated with specific hereditary and chronic ailments are mutated by this technology. Although some individuals oppose the genetic engineering approach, the technology is important because it leads to curing genetic diseases, delays aging, enhances genetic lottery, makes disease treatment less costly, and reduces infertility rates among people.
Main text
As mentioned above, genetic engineering enhances the ease of curing genetic diseases. Gyngell et al. opine that genetic editing aids in disease treatment, including thalassemia and cystic fibrosis (501). There is no medicine or other treatment option for individuals who are suffering from these conditions. The selection of healthy fetuses or embryos through genetic testing is a critical way of reducing these diseases from affecting the subsequent generation. Families lineages with such conditions have high chances of lowering genetic disorders, in general, by embracing the genetic modification practice. The gene alteration strategy enables replacing the specific unwanted genes with the new ones, which are more resistant and freer of the particular ailment, hence an essential assurance of a healthy generation in the future. Moreover, Gyngell et al. add that the genetic engineering approach guarantees children born in the subsequent cohorts are healthy and do not have the illnesses evident in the current family members (507). For instance, if infants are subjected to genetic interchange, there are high chances that their children might naturally not have the conditions. Therefore, genetic engineering augments the ease of treating genetic diseases in different families.
Additionally, genetic engineering is vital because it reduces the rate of aging. De Miguel Beriain alludes that hereditary modification slows the actual frequency at which people get old. The practice makes individuals resistant to diseases, which have high chances to develop among elderly adults in society. De Miguel Beriain further mentions that thousands of people die due to various age-related diseases. For instance, cardiovascular diseases mostly affect older adults, causing deaths in different countries throughout the world. Arguably, the ideology of gene editing has the potential of arresting or delaying aging as it has been achieved in mice (Baylis and McLeod 310). It has the capacity of allowing human beings to live twice as long without experiencing ordeals of impotence, frailty, and memory loss. In other words, the genomic alteration practice allows individuals to live long because their chances of succumbing are meager. What kills elderly people in society is old-age-related diseases. If it were not for the archaic conditions, such as cancer, individuals could have lived for more years than the present human lifespan. Thus, genetic engineering is essential because it increases people’s life expectancy by slowing aging.
Significantly, genetic modification is pivotal because it enhances the genetic lottery. Rose et al. assert that the genomic alteration ensures that only the excellent traits can be transferred from one generation to another among family members (254). It applies the selection model in choosing the exact characteristics which are discernible. The approach is effective because of the egalitarian reasons, that is, correct and reduce the levels of natural inequality. For instance, genetic engineering ensures that the worst-off people in the community, including those born lame, are retrieved from these gradual problems. It guarantees that the genes which lead to the different mental and physical difficulties are deleted and replaced by the more effective ones, enhancing the ease of individuals living in this world comfortably. The approach ensures that people are independent, whereby they do everything by themselves and never depend on others for assistance. Hereditary adjustment equally secures that children get only the best traits of both parents, hence being intelligent. Therefore, it is prudent to note that genetic engineering is important, considering that it ensures a genetic lottery.
Noteworthy, genetic alteration is critical because it makes the treatment of diseases less costly. According to Rose et al., human embryo gene editing can better comprehend different diseases and authentic medication procedures which do not modify humans (265). Notably, the gene-edited embryonic lines of the stem cell, which protect and enhance the body’s immunity to fight against diseases, can help understand their actual origins of them. Liu et al. add that other edited cells of the stem can critically help treat specific illnesses (5). Individuals can have distinct blood cells which kill and subsequently replace the leukemic ones. Moreover, genetic modification knowledge can substantially be used to treat diseases and in the production of cheap drugs. People spend a lot of money in hospitals treating chronic conditions, including leukemia, despite full recovery chances being relatively low. The availability of the different drugs in the market can reduce the prices, becoming affordable for all people across the socioeconomic class. Therefore, genetic engineering reduces the chances of individuals visiting hospitals for treatment and similarly leads to developing medicines that treat different conditions at cheap costs.
Furthermore, genetic engineering reduces the chances of infertility among individuals in society. Liu et al. orate that infertility is, to a greater extent, hereditary in that it can be transferred from one generation to another (9). When women reach the age of forty-five and above, there are high chances that they might reduce the chances of missing their regular menstrual cycles due to menopause. As a result, genetic modification ensures that it delays such incidents despite the individuals’ actual age. It guarantees that the body responds slowly to aging, enabling the persons’ organs to function normally despite their late age. As a result, women continue being fertile despite being fifty years and beyond. Connectedly, genetic alteration increases the rates of fertility among women, hence qualifying its effectiveness.
However, some people oppose genetic engineering practice among human beings because of ethical concerns. According to Miller, ethically, it is only God who has the powers to determine people’s genes and nature (15). In other words, there is no being different than the Creator, who should have the supernatural powers to edit and determine the traits of the future generation genetically. Miller further opines that the practice has traces of blasphemy, which at long last could lead to high degrees of violence against the specific religious groups (15). The genetic alteration concept is tantamount to playing the Creator. There is no human being who has the discrete powers to determine the behaviors and traits of individuals. Dictating a person’s behaviors and nature to be born is equal to rectifying God about His work. Individuals should comprehend that the Creator has good plans for everyone regardless of their physical appearance or mental status. Therefore, genetic engineering is unethical, hence should be opposed in society. Hitherto, despite genetic modification of humans sounding unethical, the practice is critical. It helps in the comprehension of different diseases and subsequently develops authentic treatment strategies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is paramount mentioning that genetic engineering is effective which can positively enhance people’s lives. Regardless of some people being against the genetic alteration method, the technology is imperative since it leads to curing genetic diseases, delays aging, enhances genetic lottery, makes disease treatment cheap, and reduces infertility among people. Presently, there are diverse illnesses that are retrogressively affecting people today, including cancer and fibroids, among many other conditions. Despite these ailments having no medicine currently, they can be prevented from occurring in subsequent generations through hereditary engineering. Moreover, the technology aims to improve the fertility and aging levels among people in society. Nowadays, elderly adults are dying because of old-age-related diseases. There is a need for people to embrace the genetic engineering practice as an assurance of having a healthy, intelligent, and productive future generation. The conservatives should not focus on the negative aspects only but equally reflect on the pros of the gene alteration method. Above all, there is a need for civic education for the public to understand genetic modification’s prudence, hence convincing them to embrace it wholly.
References
Baylis, Françoise, and Marcus McLeod. “First-in-Human Phase 1 CRISPR Gene Editing Cancer Trials: Are We Ready?” Current Gene Therapy, vol. 17, no. 4, 2017, pp. 309−319. Web.
De Miguel Beriain, Iñigo. “Human Dignity and Gene Editing: Using Human Dignity as An Argument Against Modifying the Human Genome and Germline is a Logical Fallacy.”EMBO reports, vol. 19, no. 10, 2018, e46789. Web.
Gyngell, Christopher, et al. “The Ethics of Germline Gene Editing.”Journal of Applied Philosophy, vol. 34, no. 4, 2017, pp. 498−513. Web.
Liu, Jiaqi, et al. “CRISPR/Cas9 in Zebrafish: An Efficient Combination for Human Genetic Diseases Modeling.”Human Genetics, vol. 136, no. 1, 2017, pp. 1−12. Web.
Miller, Keith. “16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Human Genetic Engineering.”Future of Working: The Leadership and Career Blog. Web.
Rose, Kathleen M., et al. “Engaging the Public at a Science Festival: Findings from a Panel on Human Gene Editing.” Science Communication, vol. 39, no. 2, 2017, pp. 250−277. Web.