Author: Areca Hossain Khan – Bangladesh – PROMPT! Cohort #1
INTRODUCTION
Imagine a world where children are born free of genetic diseases. No cancer passed down from families. No cystic fibrosis, no down syndrome, no albinism, no hereditary blindness. Scientists have discovered a tool powerful enough to make this vision or somewhat miracle possible: CRISPR-Cas9, also commonly known as and easier to pronounce ”genetical scissors”.
For the very first time in our history, humanity not just have the ability to cure diseases but also rewrite the very code of our existence.Yet this awe-inspiring promise comes with an equally deep set of questions:how far can we actually go by editing human DNA? Who gets to actually decide what has to change, and what should be left untouched?
CRISPR offers us the chance to end eternal suffering on a massive scale – but it also forces us to face ethical dilemmas that can define the future of humanity.
WHAT IS CRISPR?
CLUSTERED REGULARLY INTERSPACED SHORT PALINDROMIC PEPREATS or short for CRISPR is a natural defense system used by bacteria to fight viruses. In 2012, scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier adapted this system into a revolutionary tool that can cut and edit DNA with remarkable precision.For their discovery, they won the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
To put it simply, CRISPR is a pair of molecular scissors which are guided by GPS. It can locate a specific gene in the vast genome and either “cut it out” or “replace it“. THis is the first time humans have had direct control over their genetic blueprint.
THE PROMISE OF CRISPR
The excitement surrounding CRISPR is not just about the hype. In just about a decade, scientists have made enormous progress:
. Medical breakthroughs: In 2023, a young woman with sickle-cell disease was cured by using CRISPR therapy. Trials are ongoing for cancer,HIVs and genetic blindness.
. Agriculture: CRISPR can create drought-resistance rice, more nutritious rice, and disease resistant livestock, potentially decreasing world hunger.
. Conservation: Scientists are trying to protect endangered species and revive extinct animals like the woolly mammoth.
The possibilities sound almost limitless, CRISPR can prevent entire families from devastating illnesses, it can lengthen lifespans, improve health, and perhaps even make humans more resilient in the face of pandemics and climate change.
THE HAZARD OF CRISPR
But with any powerful technology, there are dangers:
. Designer Babies:
The biggest fear is the creation of “designer babies”. Parents might not just stop at eliminating diseases. With CRISPR, it could be possible to choose the eye colour, height, gender, intelligence and even athletic abilities. This can turn children into robots or products instead of people-designed to fit parents preferences.
. Inequality:
If CRISPR therapies are expensive, only the wealthy could afford them.Imagine a society where only the rich are genetically healthier, stronger or smarter, while the poor are left behind. This genetic divide can deepen inequalities in ways we can only imagine.
. Unintended consequences:
Genes don’t work in isolation. Editing one part of DNA can cause unexpected side effects. A change meant to cure one problem can create another. These side effects are one of the largest scientific concerns.
THE FIRST HUMAN EXPERIMENT
In 2018, the world was shocked when Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced that he created the first gene-edited babies. Using CRISPR, he altered the DNA of twin baby girls to resist HIV.
But far from being celebrated, he was condemned by the global scientific community. His experiment was done in secret, without proper oversight and long term risks to the babies were unknown. He was later sentenced to prison in China.
This case became a wake up call. It shows just how close we are to real human gene editing and how unprepared the world is for its ethical consequences.
THE ETHICAL DILEMMAS
The real challenge of CRISPR is not just scientific; it’s moral.
- What counts as a “ disease”? While curing cystic fibrosis might be universally agreed on, what about editing short stature or deafness? Some communities see these not as diseases but as identities.
- Who decides? Should parents have the right to edit their child’s genes?Should the government regulate it?Or should the choice be to individuals once they are born?
- Global responsibility: If one country bans editing human genes but another allows it.The world would face “genetic tourism”, where people travel to bypass restrictions.
- Future generations: Changes made with CRISPR are permanent. If a mistake is made , it will be passed down to every future descendant. Do we have the right to make irreversible decisions for generations yet to be born?
These questions have no simple answers- but they cannot be ignored.
THE FUTURE OF CRISPR
Despite the risk, CRISPR is not going away. Dozens of therapies are already in clinical trials. The challenge now is creating strong global regulations to prevent misuse while still allowing lifesaving research.
What’s clear is that CRISPR is moving faster than law and ethics.International cooperation is crucial-no single country can control this technology alone.
CONCLUSION
CRISPR represents one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of our time. It holds the power to end the suffering for millions and reshape But it also carries risks that could alter society in ways we are not prepared for.
We stand at a crossroads. The question is not whether we can edit human life-but whether we should, and if so, under what limits.The choice made in the coming years will shape the genetic destiny of humanity itself.
As science races forward,we must ensure that ethics keeps pace. CRISPR may be a tool of healing and hope, but only if used with wisdom, caution and responsibility.
“The power to rewrite life has been placed in our hands.What we choose to write next will define us- not just as scientists, but as a species.”
