Ethical Issues
While CRISPR has the potential to treat some diseases, studies have found that it may also cause mutations which might eventually cause other diseases.
Any genetic alterations done to embryos, eggs, or sperm cells will be passed down to all future generations. One of the main ethical issues with this kind of gene editing is that any changes will have a knock-on impact and be passed down from generation to generation. The effects of DNA editing may eventually be visible throughout the entire human population.
The use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has enormous potential for both good and bad. It poses some issues with the basic definition of what it is to be a human in some aspects. Its use would have far-reaching effects in ways that had never been seen before.
What is CRISPR Technology and how is it used?
CRISPR is a technology that enables gene editing, and as such, it has the potential to transform society. Finding a specific DNA sequence inside a cell is simple with CRISPR. After that, the section of DNA is usually modified in CRISPR gene editing. The CRISPR system has been modified to perform additional tasks as well, including turning genes on or off without changing their sequence.
Before the CRISPR technique was introduced in 2012, it was possible to change the genomes of some plants and animals, but it took years and hundreds of thousands of dollars. CRISPR has made it simple and affordable. In the future, many of the plants and animals in our farms, gardens, and homes may have to be modified with CRISPR, which is already widely employed in scientific studies. CRISPR food is already being consumed by some humans. Additionally, CRISPR technology has the potential to revolutionize medicine by allowing us to both treat and prevent a wide range of diseases. We might even choose to utilize it to alter the genes of our offspring. Although a Chinese attempt to do this has been criticized as premature and unethical, other people believe it could eventually be advantageous for kids. Other uses for CRISPR include gene drives and the control of evolution, as well as the fingerprinting of cells and recording of internal events.
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