Gene Editing in Modern Biology: CRISPR Technology, Ethics, and Impact

This essay provides an overview of gene editing, focusing on the use of CRISPR technology for DNA modification. It highlights the potential benefits of gene editing, such as curing genetic diseases and advancing genetic research, while also addressing the ethical and social issues that arise from its application. The essay discusses concerns related to altering the human genome, potential miscalculations leading to diseases like cancer, and debates surrounding parental decisions and religious views on gene modification. It emphasizes the importance of transparency in gene editing practices to ensure responsible application while upholding societal morals and values. The essay concludes that gene editing holds promise for managing chronic disorders and protecting against viruses but requires careful consideration of ethical implications.

Running head: BIOLOGY 1
Biology
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

BIOLOGY 2
Biology
Gene editing refers to a king of engineering that involves insertion, replacement, deletion,
and modification of DNA in a human genome or other organism. It also involves the ability of
genetic element introduction to humans. Such an application has the capacity of altering as well
as impairing the original DNA composition of a human being. However, the technology is
associated with the promising advantages of curing genetic diseases effectively through targeting
certain genome and modifying or replacing them. The technique can be used to advance research
concerning genetic studies which would be useful in gene therapy. Functional genes are inserted
to the host genome hence replacing the defective ones. The modern era offers powerful tools
such as CRISPR is vital making such application efficient (Rodrguez-Rodrguez et al., 2019).
Due to its advantages of being precise, cheap and highly efficient CRISPR is being widely
appreciated by many molecular biologists and genetic engineers across the globe. On the other
hand, it is critical to note out that gene-specific therapies face endless challenges regarding
ethical issues regardless of their potential in improving health intervention, hence further
advances would require informing and convincing the societies on the benefits of this
technology. Therefore, gene editing with the help of CRISPRs tools hold promises for various
chronic disorders management as well as other disease elimination and protection from virus via
strengthening the appropriate genomes.
There are underlying ethical and social issues that arise from the concept of gene editing.
Primarily, the concept of gene therapy raises numerous controversies in societies’ morals, values,
and beliefs. For example, such societies believe that gene alteration is capable of altering and
adversely affecting their future generations as well as the immediate offsprings (Rossant, 2018).
Its use of CRISPR technology that is effective at inserting, modifying and deleting various genes

BIOLOGY 3
is controversial to a large extent. In a case of miscalculations during the processes, diseases such
as cancer could arise. Moreover, this concept raises tremendous concerns to different societal
stakeholders in charge of upholding morals in societies. The government is a leading organ
whereby, debates in whether it should be in control of parental decisions regarding their gene
processes. Furthermore, there are impending issues from various world religions regarding this
concept. According to Christianity for instance, despite the depiction of gene editing as
beneficial through the ability to cure illnesses, its viewed to be a deviation from God’s plan
through its roles in gene modifications and alterations. On the other hand, the expensive nature
of this concept raises issues on probable economic inequalities in the future. However, since
gene editing contains significant benefits and potential harm to human health, transparency is
essential within all societal organs to make appropriate decisions regarding its application on
areas concerning problem-solving while withholding essential morals and values.

BIOLOGY 4
References
Rodrguez-Rodrguez, D., Ramrez-Sols, R., Garza-Elizondo, M., Garza-Rodrguez, M., &
Barrera-Saldaa, H. (2019). Genome editing: A perspective on the application of
CRISPR/Cas9 to study human diseases (Review). International Journal Of Molecular
Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2019.4112
Rossant, J. (2018). Gene editing in human development: ethical concerns and practical
applications. Development, 145(16), dev150888. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.150888