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The Benefits and Risks of Gene Editing in Humans

Gene editing, especially through CRISPR-Cas9, offers significant benefits such as curing genetic disorders and enhancing disease resistance, but it also presents ethical and safety risks. Potential issues include unintended mutations and the controversial use of gene editing for non-therapeutic enhancements, raising concerns about genetic inequality. Scientists call for international guidelines to ensure responsible and ethical use of this powerful technology.

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3 views2 pages

The Benefits and Risks of Gene Editing in Humans

Gene editing, especially through CRISPR-Cas9, offers significant benefits such as curing genetic disorders and enhancing disease resistance, but it also presents ethical and safety risks. Potential issues include unintended mutations and the controversial use of gene editing for non-therapeutic enhancements, raising concerns about genetic inequality. Scientists call for international guidelines to ensure responsible and ethical use of this powerful technology.

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menwyr
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The Benefits and Risks of Gene Editing in Humans

Gene editing, particularly with technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, has revolutionized the
field of genetics by allowing scientists to precisely modify DNA within living organisms.
In humans, gene editing holds the potential to cure genetic disorders, enhance
resistance to diseases, and even prevent inherited conditions before birth. However,
alongside its promise, gene editing raises significant ethical, safety, and societal
concerns.

One of the most significant benefits of gene editing is its potential to treat monogenic
diseases—disorders caused by mutations in a single gene. Conditions such as sickle
cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy have already been targeted in
clinical trials with encouraging results. In 2020, researchers successfully used CRISPR
to treat sickle cell disease by editing a patient’s own stem cells, leading to substantial
clinical improvement (Frangoul et al., 2021).

Gene editing may also help combat infectious diseases. Scientists are exploring ways to
make individuals resistant to HIV by modifying the CCR5 gene, which the virus uses to
enter cells. Furthermore, gene editing could enable the correction of mutations in
embryos, potentially eliminating certain genetic diseases from future generations—
although this area remains highly controversial.

Despite these advancements, gene editing poses considerable risks. Unintended


mutations, known as off-target effects, can occur when CRISPR edits the wrong part of
the genome. Such errors may lead to harmful consequences, including cancer or other
health issues. Moreover, the long-term effects of edited genes are not yet fully
understood, particularly when edits are made in germline cells, which are passed on to
offspring.

Ethical concerns also surround the potential use of gene editing for non-therapeutic
purposes, such as enhancing intelligence or physical abilities. Such applications raise
fears of “designer babies,” genetic inequality, and new forms of discrimination. The
controversial case of gene-edited babies born in China in 2018, where the CCR5 gene
was modified without proper oversight, sparked global condemnation and renewed calls
for strict regulation.

In response, many scientists advocate for international guidelines and careful oversight
to ensure that gene editing is used safely and ethically. While the technology offers
immense promise, responsible development and public dialogue are essential to
balance innovation with human values.

Reference:
Frangoul, H., Altshuler, D., Cappellini, M. D., et al. (2021). CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing for
sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(3), 252–
260. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2031054

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