Modifications (genetics)
Intentional modifications are done in a laboratory for various purposes, developing hardier seeds and plants, and increasingly to treat human disease.
[3] Genetic modifications can occur naturally, through aforementioned mutations in an organism's genome, or through biotechnological methods of selecting a gene of interest to manipulate in order to make something new or improve upon what already exists.
[4] Due to environmental conditions such as climate, diet, oxygen levels, light cycles, and mutagens or chemicals which are strongly related to disease susceptibility, genes expression can vary.
[15] Sickle cell disease: In a healthy individual, the HBB gene is responsible for encoding hemoglobin which carries oxygen throughout the body.
[18] Through the following steps, scientists are able to genetically engineer a medical product that millions of people rely on worldwide:[10] Fast-paced developments in the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology has increased both the concerns and relevance of this ethical controversy as it has become more popularly used.
[19][20] The scientific community recommends continued evaluation of risks and benefits of utilizing genetically modified organisms in everyday life.
[23] Modifying a person's non-heritable DNA with the goal of improving one's medical condition is generally accepted and has a plethora of ethical protocols monitoring such procedures.
[19] This includes modifications like organ donation, bone marrow transplants, and types of gene therapies, all of which consider cultural and religious values.
[19] For those who believe the vitility of a human embryo is equivalent to an adult, genome editing in early development occurring at or immediately following fertilization raises moral concerns.
[24] Potential health risks are also being researched and there are requirements for the safety of genetically modified foods to be clarified before they are consumed by the public.
[26] Other impacts on the environment include unnatural gene flow, modification of soil and water chemistry, and reduction of species diversity.
[25] Ethical considerations regarding gene editing are largely controversial within the scientific community due to its open ended implications for the rest of society.
