Gene Editing Vs Synthetic Biology
Gene editing and synthetic biology are two techniques that go hand in hand but differ ever so slightly. It is this slight divergence that makes a world of a difference. Gene editing is defined as the process of editing an organism’s DNA by altering, removing or adding nucleotides to the genome. Whereas synthetic biology is defined as a combination of molecular biology and systems biology with engineering principles to design biological systems and bio-factories, or the use of molecular biology tools and techniques to forward-engineer cellular behavior. By definition, both are means to redesign the very building blocks of life with synthetic biology being the new kid on the block stirring up a lot of attention. Humans have been involved in the
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Gene editing and synthetic biology have the potential to change life as we know it, but there are those who feel that the type of power that will be available in the near future because of genome editing is not meant to be wielded by man. Theologians believe that by using synthetic biology to alter DNA scientists are stepping into the role of God and anyone who chooses to “play God” is guilty of megalomania. (Dabrock, 2009) The scientists see gene editing as a way to improve the quality of life all around the world by effectively eliminating diseases and disorders. The scientists would go in and edit the genes of human embryos, removing genetic material that codes for harmful or fatal diseases, creating genetically modified humans. (Center for Genetics and Society, n.d.) The thought of a world free from diseases is magnificent because it would mean a world with less suffering, but then there is the worry that by genetically engineering humans we could accidentally give rise to new social inequalities. These inequalities could have the potential to escalate to a Hitler-like belief that those who are modified are inherently better than those who are not. Then, there are the issues of accidentally creating a negative trait, removing an unforeseen beneficial trait like the immunity to malaria that comes along with sickle cell anemia, and the effects that the modifications could have on future generations. A person could be modified to remove disease and show no ill signs, but after the genes have been passed on through generations an unforeseen ailment may become more and more
Gene editing and synthetic biology have the potential to change life as we know it, but there are those who feel that the type of power that will be available in the near future because of genome editing is not meant to be wielded by man. Theologians believe that by using synthetic biology to alter DNA scientists are stepping into the role of God and anyone who chooses to “play God” is guilty of megalomania. (Dabrock, 2009) The scientists see gene editing as a way to improve the quality of life all around the world by effectively eliminating diseases and disorders. The scientists would go in and edit the genes of human embryos, removing genetic material that codes for harmful or fatal diseases, creating genetically modified humans. (Center for Genetics and Society, n.d.) The thought of a world free from diseases is magnificent because it would mean a world with less suffering, but then there is the worry that by genetically engineering humans we could accidentally give rise to new social inequalities. These inequalities could have the potential to escalate to a Hitler-like belief that those who are modified are inherently better than those who are not. Then, there are the issues of accidentally creating a negative trait, removing an unforeseen beneficial trait like the immunity to malaria that comes along with sickle cell anemia, and the effects that the modifications could have on future generations. A person could be modified to remove disease and show no ill signs, but after the genes have been passed on through generations an unforeseen ailment may become more and more