In the near future, super-humans may walk among us. With new-and-improved, continuously advancing technology and research: scientists, ethicists and bioengineers alike have found a way to perform microsurgery on DNA, a molecule that carries most of the genetic instructions inside living organisms, essentially reprogramming genetic codes over time. This could lead to a potentially large breakthrough for the scientific community as well as humanity in general. Altering genetic codes and human DNA may lead to ways to begin eliminating common genetic mutations from upcoming future generations. However, this new gene-altering, DNA-splicing technology will need many more field tests and research to be conducted and examined to determine whether or
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DNA splicing using CRISPR is very straightforward. CRISPR technology literally cuts a malfunctioning gene, such as a one with Alzheimer’s, out of genetic coding and replaces the bad gene with a healthy, functioning gene. These cut-and-paste methods of rearranging DNA could essentially help battle diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s after more testing and development has occurred. Based on field tests conducted on monkeys in 2014, DNA splicing has proven to be successful in the case of genetically altered twins, Ningning and Mingming. The work was performed in a lab in China, where scientists used the new genome editing procedure called CRISPR. While CRISPR is relatively new to the bioengineering world, scientists have yet to try this new technology on human DNA for lack of long-term results to these …show more content…
This technology potentially paves the way for future scientists to alter the human gene pool by eliminating common illnesses and diseases caused by genetic variations. So with CRISPR, bioengineers could possibly eradicate certain genetic mutations and even correct others. Hopefully, by genetically altering human DNA with the use of CRISPR, the benefits of successful DNA splicing will open new doors to treating genetic illnesses and even eradicating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Other scientists, such as Antonio Regalado in particular, also believes more research as well as more rigorous testing should be conducted before using CRISPR on living humans as opposed to cells in a Petri dish. “New technologies, combined with scientists, ethicists and legal experts could devise a way to change humanity, as we know it.” (Regalado
DNA splicing using CRISPR is very straightforward. CRISPR technology literally cuts a malfunctioning gene, such as a one with Alzheimer’s, out of genetic coding and replaces the bad gene with a healthy, functioning gene. These cut-and-paste methods of rearranging DNA could essentially help battle diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s after more testing and development has occurred. Based on field tests conducted on monkeys in 2014, DNA splicing has proven to be successful in the case of genetically altered twins, Ningning and Mingming. The work was performed in a lab in China, where scientists used the new genome editing procedure called CRISPR. While CRISPR is relatively new to the bioengineering world, scientists have yet to try this new technology on human DNA for lack of long-term results to these …show more content…
This technology potentially paves the way for future scientists to alter the human gene pool by eliminating common illnesses and diseases caused by genetic variations. So with CRISPR, bioengineers could possibly eradicate certain genetic mutations and even correct others. Hopefully, by genetically altering human DNA with the use of CRISPR, the benefits of successful DNA splicing will open new doors to treating genetic illnesses and even eradicating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Other scientists, such as Antonio Regalado in particular, also believes more research as well as more rigorous testing should be conducted before using CRISPR on living humans as opposed to cells in a Petri dish. “New technologies, combined with scientists, ethicists and legal experts could devise a way to change humanity, as we know it.” (Regalado