Arguments Against Gene Therapy

The concept of genetically engineering humans was once confined to the franchises of fiction – stories of half-humans and shapeshifters, transgenesis and cyborging, genetic superpowers and mutations. The list goes on, but one crucial thing has changed – now these once impossible ideas have seemingly become attainable. Ever since female scientists in the United States and Sweden discovered CRISPR-Cas9, the scientific community has been debating over how to use this new power in their hands. Germline gene therapy is a form of genetic engineering that involves transferring DNA into reproductive cells to treat disease, so that the inserted gene will be passed onto future generations. There is currently much controversy over this topic and whether …show more content…
However, no child can choose their genes and would not have been able to select whether they were sick or healthy, regardless of how they were born. Besides, the prospect of a suffering child is devastating, and any caring parent would do almost anything for treatment, regardless of price. Many are worried that “Gene therapy remains prohibitively expensive. For instance, there is a gene therapy drug on the market that costs around $1,600,000 per patient- the most expensive drug in the world” (North). However, it cannot be made more available without more resources and experimentation, which cannot be used if studies are forbidden. Furthermore, germline gene therapy is a remedy which carries on, unlike other forms of therapy which do not alter DNA. If the disease can be removed entirely, the long-term costs of other treatment will be reduced. Finally, one of the biggest concerns revolves around the idea that “germline gene therapy could be used to select for particular physical characteristics regardless of whether they are important for the health of the individual” (Is germline gene therapy ethical?). Many are worried that the human population would have little genetic diversity, and would be more susceptible to …show more content…
It lets people go through life without danger from illness, and may possibly even make life easier for those around them. In many cases, this therapy is the only option left, and with enough time and treatment, certain genetic diseases could eventually be cured entirely. Contrary to what some may think, the process does consider individual rights, and anything even potentially dangerous will be forbidden. Gene therapy is a good solution to deadly diseases that could not be treated previously. With it, we could be on our way to creating brighter, healthier lives for future