BARCLAY’S

Barclay’s graph:

It is evident that gene modification is our future, but some serious thought must be given to the long-term consequences of this technology. Dalai Lama states, “One of the social and cultural consequences of new genetic technologies is their effect on the continuation of our species, through interference with the reproductive process” (66). Lama explains the ethical concerns behind this process such as manipulating genes to benefit an individual’s wants. Whether or not it’s right to choose a child’s sex or their physical appearance is really what Lama is trying to explain. Long term consequences are a thought to think about not only in just humans, but in the environment as well. The Week 13 writes, “The federal Environmental Protection Agency has approved a plan by a British biotech company called Oxitec to release about 1 billion genetically modified (GM) mosquitos in the Florida Keys and, next year, Texas”. Scientists still don’t know the long term effects of the genetic modification inside these mosquitos nor do they know the long term effects it would have in the environment. Releasing these mosquitos would kill off a huge amount of the species, ninety percent to be exact. We don’t know how this would effect food chains as mosquitos are a primary food source for multiple animals. The food chain being affected would cause the ecosystem to be affected. This could lead to negative environmental impacts. CRISPR has too much unknown information on its long term consequences and risking utilizing it could lead to the amplification of possible negative consequences on both society and the environment.

Intro with 2 thesis statements:

You can edit yourself. You can edit your kids. You can edit your hair color, eye color, skin color, body mass, height, basically any physical feature about yourself. Don’t like the way you look? Change it. You can now. You can even do this with your kids as well. Want them to have attributes you don’t? Edit your kids. You must be dying to know what game I’m talking about. Well, I’m talking about life. CRISPR is a scientific tool that allows for genes to be manipulated in any way its user pleases. At first, this sounds amazing. So many positive outcomes can result with this breakthrough. We can cure cancer or appear how we want to others. The only major problem is that there’s so much unknown to CRISPR. Humanity doesn’t know its long term effects and we don’t know possible consequences we can suffer by utilizing this science. Dalai Lama, “the leader of the Central Tibetan Administration”, discusses the topic of CRISPR and how genetic modification weaves in with humanities ethical standards. He even offers a solution through a list of ethical principles that would help humanity keep control of CRISPR. On the other hand, there’s biohacker Josiah Zayner, who believes there shouldn’t be limits to the use of CRISPR and even wants to turn it into a consumer product. This is dangerous. Without knowing possible long term effects, CRISPR can turn catastrophic, ranging from within our own human bodies to bigger playgrounds like the environment. This is why CRISPR shouldn’t be developed in the first place, but it’s development won’t stop anytime soon. Not everybody is going to play fair either, so a set of ethics wouldn’t work globally due to differing religions, cultures and values. Until side effects are discovered, CRISPR should only serve to defend.

2nd thesis:

Dalai Lama’s ethical principles set has high value, but it’s unfortunately unrealistic. Somebody will always disagree with somebody. We’re alive because nuclear war would cause Armageddon. With genetic manipulation, I don’t think the main fear is the end of the world, rather that of a new world order, and I think different powers are willing to fight for that based on individual benefits.