Ethics in Bioengineering

The aim of this essay is to discuss ethics related to the Chinese case in November 2018 where a researcher altered the genome of two embryos prior to implantation and the ethics related to the genomic engineering.

Running head: ETHICS IN BIOENGINEERING
ETHICS IN BIOENGINEERING
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The aim of this essay is to discuss ethics related to the Chinese case in November
2018 where a researcher altered the genome of two embryos prior to implantation and the
ethics related to the genomic engineering. He Jiankui used the gene editing technology of
Crispr-Cas9 (Nytimes.com 2019). According to the news published in the science journals
from China as well as of the world, this particular experience has opened the gate for further
research on the human genes which was till date limited to the agriculture and rearing
livestock. The scientist has aimed to find out ways to modify the genes of the embryo who
have one parent affected with HIV positivity. In this case of genome editing in the human
germline editing, has faced huge ethical questions. As it is associated with the alteration of
the genes affecting the natural characteristics of the bodies that is passed down to the future
generations, this technologies cannot be supported. Regarding this experiments of the
Chinese genetic engineer relating to the usage of CCR5 for creating babies immune to some
severe decreases including HIV can be effective for the time being but is potential to be
threatening for the future generation (H 2019). Despite the fact that the scientist has used the
Crispr-Cas9 for making this experiments more accurate and easy to be conducted, there are
ethical questions of doing such research so easily without being prevent but the controlling of
the scientific guidelines of China and ethical legitimacy groups (Nationalacademies.org
2019).
The genetic engineers use genetic modification process through various types of tolls
or techniques and change or modify the genetic makeup of the organisations. It is also
relating to the method of removing genetic materials from one species of animals and plants
to the other and make a new species (Nationalacademies.org 2019). This process is also
implemented in the experiment in creating human babies by He Jiankui. As stated by the
Chinese scientist, in the international human genome editing summit arranges in Hong Kong,
he wanted to mirror the natural mutation found in the small percentage of people that make

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them resistant to the virus of HIV (Theguardian.com 2019). This process of altering the
genome of two embryos prior to implantation has resulted into the birth of two girls Nana and
Lulu who were completely healthy since their birth (Nationalacademies.org 2019). Along
with the detailed discussion of the merits of this type of bio engineering, the essay will also
discuss the ethics around genomic engineering particularly associated with somatic cell
therapy; prenatal therapy, agricultural crops and livestock.
In recent years, the scientists have discovered the relatively easy was for editing genes
which is the strand of the human DNA for governing the body. In this regard, the Crisper-
Cas9 works as the tools which makes it possible to operate on the DNA supply a needed gene
or the disable ones which is causing problems (Yourgenome.org (2019). As pointed out by
the Chinese scientist He Jiankui, he had used this particular tool to modify another gene
named CCR5 in a number of embryos created through IVF for the couples with the HIV
positive fathers. In order to understand how Crisor-Cas9 works, the composition and process
must be understood (Nationalacademies.org 2019). This particular system is consisted of two
key molecules which introduce a change or mutation into the DNA. These include an enzyme
called Cas9 which acts as the pair of molecular scissors that cuts the two strands of DNA at
specific location in the genome so that the bits of DNA can be added or removed. Another
part of this system is the price of RNA which is called the guide RNA or gRNA. This
consists of the small pieces of predesigned RNA sequence about the 20 bases long and
located within the longer RNA framework. This particular scaffold part binds to the DNA
and the pre-designed sequence guide Cas9 to the right part of the genome. This ensures that
the Cas9 enzyme particularly cuts the right point of the genome (Yourgenome.org 2019).
According to the genetic engineering, this gRNA is designed to find out and bind the
specific sequence of the DNA. The Cas9 only follows the guide RNA to some location in
DNA sequence and cuts the both strands of the DNA. At this point of process, the element

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recognises whether the DNA is damaged hence tries to damage this. It is the most effective
use of this process and the scientists or the genetic engineers use the DNA repair machinery
for the changes in the genome. In the case of giving birth of twin babies in China by using
this particular system has different issues questioning merits of this system
(Nationalacademies.org 2019). He, a genome editor who used the system altering the genome
of two embryos prior to implantation, and published many YouTube videos reading this
particular study. In all of his videos he had stated that he has impregnated a woman with
embryos for experimenting the efficiency of this system. These embryos had been edited to
disable genes which allow HIV for infecting cells (Nationalacademies.org 2019). This is how
he had targeted the gene known as CCR5 as this is well studied among the scientist. In
addition to this, he had selected this particular gene as the mutation of this gene offers
protection against the HIV infection which has a significant social in the society of China
(Actionbioscience.org 2019).
In detailing the application or implications of CCR5, it can be stated that the
efficiency and simplicity are the main advantage. Secondly, the Crispr-Cas9has been used for
the treatment of range of medical conditions having genetic components associated with them
which also include Cancer, high cholesterol and hepatitis B. Therefore, the merits of this
process of human embryo gene editing can be pointed out. The CCR5 protein has been the
subject of research for the scientists in the field of HIV since 1990s and becoming gradually
popular in reducing the risks of severe or fatal infectious diseases (Sataline and Sample
2019). This has also been shown for enhancing the leaning on mice. The CCR5 protein is
expressed on surface of immune cells and the mutation of CCR5-Δ32 can make the carriers to
be resistant to the HIV (Yourgenome.org 2019). In the case of Him, his work is based on this
mutation which is found only in the 10% of Europeans. His slides disclose the fact that he
had produced three types of mutations in the twins.

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The merits of this gene mutation has included to work as the protection from the west
Nile virus, that are transmitted by the mosquitoes in the areas of Europe, the Americas and
Africa. This has some life threatening complications like meningitis and encephalitis. The
people without CCR5 gene are more likely to develop serious conditions than the people with
this gene (Sataline and Sample 2019). Therefore, this experiment of He Jiankui has made the
girls protected from the sever effect of this virus. This is effective as when CCR5 protein
interacts with the β-chemokines proteins and immunes the body. It also saves the body from
the yellow fever and dengue. This is the reason why He’s work with CCR5 protein is
advantageous to find out the solution for such diseases (Actionbioscience.org 2019).
Another merit of this alteration implied in the twins by He Jiankui is that the CCR5
gene can help them to learn faster than the other children. However it is true that numerous
genes are associated with the learning process and memory of the human beings and what
results are found in the human beings may not be effective in the human beings, but in case
this protein works perfectly, this experiment will be proved successful in enhancing brain
through genetic alteration.
The ethical aspect of He Jiankui’s experiment with gene and the birth of twin girls in
China, has been criticised by a huge number of scientists of the world. According to the study
by Li et al. (2019), the fast development of the science and technology in china especially in
the bio medical researchers have put some serious questions on the ethics of the experiments.
As mentioned by these authors, the success of He Jiankui in giving birth of the first twin gene
edited babies has shocked the scientists around the world. This is questioning the ethical
governance of the Chinese government and their ability to control the scientists regarding
their experiments with the human genes (Sataline and Sample 2019). In his experiment, He
has successfully created two babies who naturally have the immunity from the HIV virus
through genetic experiments. The scientific ethics in this regard has been affected greatly as

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pointed out by the scientist’s associated HIV researches and preventions
(Actionbioscience.org 2019). To these scientists the human cells must not be used for HIV
prevention. The scientists who are calling this experiment unethical is question the protection
of the privacy as well as the rights of the babies as well as assorted parents participating this
type of experiments.
This ethical question is relating the genome editing technology in the nation for
treating severe genetic diseases (Reference, 2019). The scientist of this same field has asked
whether there is a guarantee that these girls will be surely safeguarded with the HIV and other
related with the similar diseases. Most of the scientists of the world has been questioning
whether the genetic engineers must work with the human genome and alter genes for the
benefits for those humans but risking the lives of the others. To these societies, the human
genome editing experiments still needs refinement and improvement (Nytimes.com 2019).
Therefore, the experiment of creating twins by altering the genes and implanting embryo in
the mother’s womb is not supportive of the human rights. In case, the governance or
regulatory bodies of the scientific association of the country cannot keep proper surveillance
these processes, the effect will be monstrous. This type of experiment in the name of
developing an efficient human gene, may create unintended side effects and hence a severe
adverse effect in the human society.
The ethical issues relating to genetic engineering and transgenic has always been
important for maintaining balance of the experiments, technological advancement of the
human beings and the natural growth of the somatic cell therapy; prenatal therapy,
agricultural crops and livestock (Reference, 2019). Genetic engineering for removing a
genetic material and adding those to the other genes to develop a new species is highly
effecting in the agriculture and enhancing livestock. This process of developing transgene
leads to isolation of the genes of interest from the donor organisms and then these are altered

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for making it work more effectively in one hand and express more readily in their host
organisms. This gene is them combined with the other genetic elements then introduced to
the host. This is different form the selective breeding completely. For insurance, the
reproductive cells from two species of horse and donkey can give birth of a new species
named mule.
As mentioned before, the ethics related to the operation of the genetic engineering has
been triggered by the experiment of He Jiankui’s success in creating two genetically modified
human babies. This is put the somatic cells therapy and parental therapy into the ethics of
human rights (Nytimes.com 2019). Until this particular therapy was used in enhancing
agricultural outputs, limiting diseases from the rice or wheat cultivation, enhancing the
protein ratio or any other nutritious elements into the crops and introducing new type of seeds
in the agricultural scenario. Highly modified seeds are having advanced genetic structures
which do not need much nourishment from the peasants, have less risks for diseases and can
undergo any climate change to survive (Reference, 2019). The current development in the
genetic engineering implemented in the agriculture have gone to the extent of developing
glowing plat projects where the crops have slightly illuminating factors and glow in dark. In
addition to this, there are processes through which the scientists are implementing human
proteins in the fruit seeds like banana, tomatoes and potatoes. These are supportive of human
growth. Similarly, the scientists have also developed vaccinated seeds or fruits with can resist
or eliminate the threat of fatal gouts, diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis b and rotavirus (Mulvihill
2019).
In the livestock production, genetic engineering does not put any ethical question.
During the past 10-15 years the incorporation of biotechnology has bounded itself with the
molecular based technology like the gene cloning and genetic engineering for enhancing the
production of the livestock like sheep, pigs, goats and cows for that matter. Micro injection if

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they the DNA into pronuclei of the recently fertilised egg has been the most common
technique used in producing the genetically engineered livestock. According to the scientists
like (Ormandy 2019), there are two main different aspects of the genetic engineering which
are cloning and transgenes. Unlike implemented in the agricultural sector, this method is used
in the growth of the animals in a healthy way, industrial livestock productions, conservatism
the highly endangered species and producing genetically immune livestock. In such cases, the
production of milk, egg and meat have been the primary concern of this genetic modification
process.
In the cases of somatic cell therapy, the process is focussed on the treatment of the
individuals through targeting the therapy to the body cells like bone marrow and blood cells.
This type of process can be easily attained in the medical science and usually free form issues
of ethics. This is due to fact that this therapy is not passed to the future generation but only
focus on the patient himself (Genome.gov 2019). Only in the case of germ line gene therapy
when the parents decide to egg or sperm cells and interest particular elements that is carried
to the future generation, puts ethical questions. As the child born in the families having
genetic disorder, are particularly selected for this therapy, this might affect the development
of the infant in some unexpected ways in one hand and remain under the threat of long term
side effect which are not yet known. This is the reason why the US government has stopped
the federal funds to be used for the research on the germline gene therapy in the people
despite their consent and demand (Mulvihill 2019).
Most of the ethical questions regarding the human genome editing has been triggered
after He Jiankui had made it possible for the birth of the first ever gene edited babies. Despite
the fact that it is essential to have the public deliberation and debate whether this process of
genetic engineering can be supported or not (Genome.gov 2019). Therefore, there has been
questions associated with three most important aspects. These are safety, informed consent

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and finally equity and justice. Most of the ethical concerns are associated with the aspects of
safety. Due to the probability of the matter if target effects in which the scientists are not
being able to edit the right places and the issue of mosaicism. In this particular case some
cells carry the edit and others do not (Mulvihill 2019). Hence the safety comes to a question.
This is the reason why in the summit of human gene editing, the genetic engineers and the
ethicists have pointed out that until and unless the germline genome editing is not deemed
safe, this must not be used for the clinical reproductive purpose (Nødvig et al. 2015). In some
cases, the bioethicists and scientists have acknowledged the prospects beneficial by the
germline editing method that can meet all the needs which the reimplementation genetic
diagnosis or PGD cannot. This type of cases include when both the parents are homozygous
for having disease causing variants. In this cases, both these parents have two copies of
disease bearing variant which may affect the children positively. In addition to this, the
germline editing can help the patients of the polygenic disorders that are infected by more
than one gene. Finally it can also help the families who do not agree to the element of the pre-
implantation genetic diagnosis. Similarly the question of safety is developed when the
concern regarding usage of genome editing for therapeutic purposes and curing genetic
diseases upsurge in the societies (Genome.gov 2019). The use of genome editing for the
parental theory is being sharply objected by the public in the US who need that the
government need to have some strict measures for the use of such treatments of giving birth
of the genetically modified babies.
The questions of justice, equity and informed consent are another factors based on
which the bioethicists have put up the question. According to them, when the genetic
modifications of the genes of the embryos are being changed, it is not possible for the
scientists argue that the scientists do not get full permission from the patients of the genome
therapy (Wrighton 2018). On the country, the other sort of scientists are focussing on the

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country argument that the parents who are being engaged with this type of theory know the
consequences of this therapy and they have already made the decision for their future
generations (Theguardian.com 2019). The main morale and religious objection shave pointed
out that the finds for his type of experiment is completely used for the creation or destruction
of the embryo which affect the rights of the infants before birth (Baret and Vanloqueren
2017). This therapy can create classes of individuals defined by their high quality of
engineered genome hat can affect the human society in the future.
Therefore, it can be concluded that despite the fact that there are merits of genome
engineering in the various field of human physiology, agriculture and livestock, an ethical
issue is always present in every new exploration. He Jiankui had selected CCR5 gene as the
mutation of this gene offers protection against the HIV infection and implanted them that
resulted in the birth of twin babies perfectly healthy and immune to HIV and other fatal
diseases.

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