Germ Line Editing Research Paper

While there are amazing advances in genetic engineering, opponents of gene editing cast a grim light on new technologies that put the human race further to the ability to change the genetic makeup of the human genome. When the ability to edit the human genome became realized, skeptics immediately voiced their opinions on how outrageous the thought of manipulating the human genome was. To manipulate the human genome was to change the past and hinder natural selection, the cornerstone of evolution. Opponents of gene editing like Josephine Quintavalle stated, “The commodification of children in reproductive technology is turning parenthood into an unhealthy model of self-gratification rather than a relationship where unequivocal acceptance and love of the offspring, an ideal of
Germ line editing is the process of ‘deleting’ or replacing undesirable traits in a human such as: a gene that causes immediate birth defects; a gene that causes hereditary diseases; or a gene that increases one’s chance for a disease. This editing could also be subjective to human hubris. Francis S. Collins states in an interview, “Evolution has been working toward optimizing the human genome for 3.85 billion years. Do we really think that some small group of human genome tinkerers could do better without all sorts of unintended consequences?”. Collins thinks that scientist will edit genes that they deem unnecessary or disabling. The genes that would be replaced or inserted would follow that genetic line for future generations. The problem this poses is there might be a mistake in the gene edit that will permanently affect a newborn. Essentially, a scientist in a lab is potentially changing your child’s genetic timeline that consist of the mixing of the same genetics for thousands of years. Gene editing could destroy thousands of years’ worth of