John V Current Event

Jack Vigue Current Events Project

Expert panel approves human gene editing

By Tina Hesman Seay

“Expert Panel Approves Human Gene Editing.” Science News for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.

<https://student.societyforscience.org/article/expert-panel-approves-human-gene-editing>

Date Written- December 4, 2015

Do you think human gene editing is safe? The expert panel of scientists referred to in the article by Tina Hesman Seay provides information which supports human gene editing. On December 3, in Washington, DC, they said that research on human gene editing is important and that research should be continued. They believed the process of gene editing DNA would have a positive effect on the human population. Genes make up a person’s personality. This includes their eyes, hair color, facial features etc. Experts are now using chemical “scissors” to replace faulty genes with new and improved ones. Many people think that gene editing is like playing God. Their opinion is that it isn’t safe. The panel supports gene editing because there are good conclusions that come out of it. One of the good parts of gene editing is that it helped a 1 year old girl with leukemia go into remission. She was treated with edited immune cells. In her situation, the TALENs (“They are actually enzymes that researchers engineer to latch onto DNA at specific sites and then cut it.”) sliced the genes. This is the first time on a human that TALENs have been a success. The same scientists (Expert panel) recognized limitations that occurred to them. Research has to stay up to date to make sure gene editing is completely safe. Also, germ-line editing is off limits outside of their lab because of the concern the panel has about passing on editing genes to the future generation. The gene editing committee has brought up that germ-line editing is morally and ethically wrong, and that there are safety concerns. They say it’s irresponsible. There is one big exception that has been discovered of human gene editing, no using edited cells to make a baby. Still, germ cell editing is not off limits and researchers are still allowed to edit on embryo’s and and other germ cells in their lab. They need to look more into germ-line editing to make sure it’s safe. “As long as those cells are not implanted into a woman to create a baby, it is not germ-line editing,” said committee chairman David Baltimore.

 

This article connects to the unit we are studying in science because we are looking at cells, and I’m researching about gene editing, and both of those topics fall under the unit of human anatomy. I think the information of the article is very useful because I thought it has a lot of things you should know about human gene editing. Also, by the end of the article, you should have a basic understanding of the topic. I chose this article because when I read it, I thought it was something cool to learn/know about and the article has a lot of information to work into my project. Another reason why I chose this article is the fact that experts use chemical “scissors” which brought my attention to gene editing. I was in awe when I read about how gene editing helped bring a 1 year old girl with leukemia into remission. I thought that was amazing! There are many pros and cons to the article. Pros- The editing “scissors” replace faulty genes. Also, experts had no problem with somatic editing. Somatic cells make up the body except the germ cells. Cons- Many people don’t think gene editing is safe. They say that it should be banned because it’s not humane. In theory, the process of human gene editing can make designer babies and make them more intellectual or/and good looking. In the 1940’s, Hitler’s Third Reich wanted to do that by trying to create a perfect Aryan Nation. They wanted a tall, blue eyed and blond haired society. Those experiments were inhumane and morally reprehensible. I think what the expert panel of scientists is saying about human gene editing should be considered. Advancements in medicine throughout history have always involved radical ideas. The experts are going through the same situation. People think that human gene editing is wrong and shouldn’t be accepted. I think in the end, more people will agree with the scientists like they did in the past in the regard to medicine. My opinion on human gene editing is scattered. I have doubts about it, but in the end I’m going to choose the scientists side with reservations. They have said that some things shouldn’t happen with gene editing. They have said their are risks, and other people have said they think it’s unsafe. I believe that the scientists wouldn’t edit genes if they knew it wasn’t safe. They are editing genes for all the right ways. For the ways in gene editing that the scientists aren’t sure about, they say they are going to research more on that topic and see if it is safe. They won’t put edited cells in a body if they didn’t think it was okay. After I finished the article, I didn’t have a big enough reason why I shouldn’t be on the same side as the experts. I think advances human gene editing should be continued, do you?