Blog 4: The Ethics of Human Gene Editing

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/science/biologists-call-for-halt-to-gene-editing-technique-in-humans.html?_r=0

This article discusses the ethics of editing human genomes in ways that can actually alter people's physical looks and characteristics as well personalities. This process of editing genes can cure genetic diseases but also has the ability to enhance individual qualities. There was a new human genome editing technique invented in 2012 which essentially made it much easier to edit human genes with extreme precision. However, this has raised the question of whether it is ethical to alter humanity in future generations to ensure that we can control our genetic outcomes. Biologists in general support continuing research on the potential outcomes of this new technique, while ethicists are against it. Everyone agrees that countries must regulate this new scientific breakthrough to ensure it is not used in unethical ways. It is also important to note that humankind is supposed to improve the world and by using this genetic modification we would be able to ensure that future generations would be free of flaws. However, this sort of "playing god" is completely unethical. Governments must begin to regulate this new science before it is used in the wrong way.