Gene editing has serious ethical and environmental implications

Editing genes is now almost as easy as snapping your fingers. Should we use our new superpowers, though? A new study published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B offers some insights.

CRISPR technology, discovered a few years ago, is capable of spreading desired traits across whole species and has started a new era of precise gene engineering. The tech has wide applications: raising livestock productivity, creating resistance to diseases and overcoming antibiotic resistance. It can also be used to create animals better suited for the study of human diseases, protect native species (by driving invasive ones extinct), bring extinct animals to life, and overcome diseases like malaria, which still kills over a million people annually.

Yet many people are worried about the potential tradeoffs and ethical implications of massive genetic remastering. Of the 134 papers analyzed for the study, the researchers found that most of the arguments revolved around human health, efficiency gains, risks, environmental considerations and public acceptability. Meanwhile, animal interests were of less concern.

Trying to relieve animal suffering and improve their wellbeing with the help of gene editing should clearly be a goal. Yet most of the research community appears to take for granted the inferior status of animals as objects to be manipulated and utilized according to human intent. Some researchers argue that gene editing is incompatible with real animal welfare and dignity.

In regards to other issues, despite active debates there has been very little research done on the comparative benefits and tradeoffs of different choices. We don’t know if gene editing will bring more good or harm over the long term.

The research team concludes that though the technology is already here, it’s important to engage with issues of animal rights and critically research multiple outcomes of gene editing. We also need to actively support public involvement into large scale gene editing applications where the lives of millions and whole ecosystems can be transformed by a few people thinking they are doing the right thing.

Playing god has never been easy for humans, but it looks like the choices are now as existential as they have ever been.