WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

PLAYING GOD

We now have the ability to play God with our genetic code.

At Cambridge University in 1962, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of the DNA molecule: A double helix structure of phosphates and sugars, held together by four different organic molecules. Built into this structure is a kind of code, one that spells out the biological blueprint of who we will become, from the color of our skin to our risk of hereditary disease.

In a sense, our DNA is our programming and just as we can analyze the code in which computers are programmed, we can now read, analyze and manipulate our DNA.

Today, many companies offer to test every one of the 22,000 genes that make you who you are. Such testing gives an analysis of everything, from what percentage Neanderthal you are to your genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s. People are starting to take this seriously. You may recall actress Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a double mastectomy in 2013. Well, that was based on genetic analysis which revealed an 87% probability that she would develop breast cancer within 14 years, enabling her to take preventative action. And today’s technology allows us to take a step further in our attempts to prevent disease: editing our genes.

Oddly enough, we owe this ability to scientists at a Danish dairy company, Danisco. Looking for ways to control the viruses attacking the good bacteria in their cheeses and yogurts, the scientists discovered something called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, or CRISPR. When the bacteria’s DNA was attacked by viruses, the DNA deployed CRISPR to identify its assailant and then literally cut it out of the genetic code. The virus was then replaced with healthy code. Think of CRISPR as a pair of molecular scissors and you can start to see its potential. Use it to cut out the parts of our DNA that encode genetic diseases, like cystic fibrosis, for example, and you can prevent those diseases completely.

The consequences are profound. To date, our evolution has been based on natural selection. But now, human selection – the ability to dictate our own evolution – lies before us. And with it come profound ethical questions with no clear answers. Can a bereaved parent clone his lost child? Why don’t we all evolve to run like Usain Bolt?

What are your thoughts, please leave your comments below.

Olusola Bodunrin is a graduate of Philosophy from the University of Ado-Ekiti. He is a professional writer, he writes articles for publication and he anchors – ‘What You Should Know’ on SHEGZSABLEZS’ blog.

‘What You Should Know’ is a column that offers to educate and enlighten the public on general falsehood and myths.