Could genetic engineering cure disease?

The ethical debate continues.

You might have once joked that you hope your future offspring won’t inherit your partner’s curly hair or hammer toes. Turns out, it may not have to remain a joke. What if you could choose the type and colour of your child’s hair and eyes?

Would you design your baby? 

Genetic engineering is the process to alter the structure and nature of genes in human beings, using techniques like molecular cloning and transformation. It aims to add or modify our DNA, to realise certain objectives, like a particular eye colour or hair type.

Currently, genetic engineering research and tests are so advanced that choosing the kind of baby you’re going to have is possible by altering DNA. During the process, individual genes are removed or will be present to add or eradicate an unwanted trait. Although this is currently possible, the procedure hasn’t been performed as there are still many ethical debates surrounding it.

Amongst the thinking points to consider…

The end of all disease? There are thousands of deadly and incurable diseases in the world, and these could be eliminated through genetic engineering. Selective genetic engineering is when your genes are altered to withstand these diseases. For example, severe conditions like cystic fibrosis could be cured or prevented if genes of the future generation are altered. 

You may live longer. Humans have been living progressively longer thanks to advances in modern medicine. Combined with genetic engineering, you could increase your lifespan even further. Common diseases and illnesses shorten our lifespan significantly, so if you were to be genetically reformed to adapt to illness and disease, you’re less likely to get infected, and your lifespan would be extended. 

Flaws could be eliminated. Don’t want your kids to inherit genetic baldness or allergies? Genetic engineering could be the solution. Specific genetics would be targeted to get rid of so-called defects before your child ages. 

We need some forms of illness. Although we need to fight against diseases, some are necessary to ensure that the planet doesn’t become overpopulated. As genetic engineering could extend your lifespan, it could cause problems in the social sector.

Good to know

Scientists can't possibly know everything about something as complex as the human body. So, they can't really predict the outcomes of even slight changes to your genetic make-up. This makes genetic engineering dangerous and unpredictable. There is also the possibility of genetic mutations and stillbirth.