GENE EDITING: CRISPR-CAS9
The main ethical issue with gene editing is the consequences of gene editing in the near future or generations later: there is no predictability. The possibility of a mistake happening during the procedure is high; it can occur in the DNA causing more damage than intended. There has not been many trials or much study of this system compared to other medications, so the possibility of a mistake is very high. This is the ethical issue that sways the FDA from approving the use of genetic editing. Compared to the benefit of gene editing, the harms are much more. There have been many cases where the system failed to work properly.
Another problem that arises is if it is okay to tamper with the things that make us who we are. Altering genes could allow parents to change their babies to what they desire: the babies become designer babies. The main use for gene-editing is to help fix genetic diseases, but what defines genetic diseases? Every trait we have is because of our genes, so if we have a trait we don't like, it is possible to be considered a genetic disease. Therefore, everything we consider "wrong" with our body becomes a genetic disease, which later becomes cured by gene-editing. If we keep editing ourselves, how will the human race evolve? For example, in today's time if we get attacked by an unknown virus like Ebola, the way we discover antibodies is by finding the person who is resistant to that virus. Since we all evolve randomly, the chances to find a person in our population is there and we as a human race can prevent an epidemic, but if stop evolution and start manufacturing humans, we might become extinct.
ETHICAL ISSUES
SOCIAL ISSUES
There are many social issues which arise with the topic of gene editing. One is whether gene editing could make us all equal. Because we all want the perfect baby: smart, good looking, athletic, we all can create babies that are the same. The fact that everybody becomes the same makes this wold a dystopian world. With everybody the same, there is no progress in the human world, there are no conflicts to make society better, there are no new innovations and lastly there is no diversity. It has been known forever that everybody is different and that is what makes them special. Everybody has a unique thinking capability depending on their different experiences and when combine different minded people, the ideas of innovation become better in all aspects. With no diversity, there is no competition, and hence no desire to become better.
Another social issue is discrimination. Even though the CRISPR-Cas9 system has been advertised to cost less and be more effective, many people may still not be able to afford the cures. On the other hand, people with billions of dollars can afford gene-editing and they make themselves look more attractive. Not only does this give them an advantage in the world, but it also makes them consider the non-gene edited people as lower to them. This creates more of a discrimination because when the people get their gene edited, they are most likely going to make themselves look flawless. When this happens, we might go back in time and been slavery again, as the people who cannot afford gene-editing will look worse and be considered lower.
Lastly, gene-editing may cause people to act and be better at their profession and actually unbeatable compared to other people. Just like how drug enhancements are not allowed for athletes, gene-editing may prevent people form participating in things such as sports. Although the people may have needed to get their genes edited, for a genetic disease, they would be disqualified for "taking drugs."
LEGAL ISSUES
One of the legal issue with gene editing is that people would have no consent over what happens to their body. When a baby is just born, he/she/it have no clue what their body is like or if they have any disease. However, if the parent sees a disease,they would want to immediately fix it. In this case, this gives no chance to the baby to choose whether they want to change or not. This is the legal issue with designer babies. If parents decide to change their baby they way they want to, they don't have anybody to stop them. However, it is the babies body, so if the parents change it without the child's consent, the parents should not be allowed to.
The other legal issue is who will set these laws all over the world? If say US decides it is illegal to change babies, some other country might allow it and it will be very hard to setup laws that all countries will follow.
