What are the ethical issues of using CRISPR?

I wonder how far you can go with gene editing until it begins to reshape who humans are.

I can understand using this technology to cure diseases that are life threatening. But how do you feel about using CRISPR, at least in it's current state, on non-life threatening diseases and embryos? Where does the moral line get drawn?

I'm no expert in this topic but I feel as though CRISPR is not ready for trials yet. And I think they're rushing into things way too fast and that could have very bad consequences.

How might CRISPR be used outside of the medical field? (livestock, crops, etc.)

Under the COVID-19 section, why did they not list the false positive rate in addition to the false negative rate? Wouldn't both of them be important to consider when judging effectiveness?

Are there infinite gene mixes? because everyone has different DNA?

I didn't expect it to be just for humans; they used it for mosquitoes, hoping to cure malaria and possibly other diseases

What is the most unexpected, but plausible, way you think CRISPR might be used in the future?

I never really expected this technology to be used for testing for diseases; when it said that a CRISPR based system was used for COVID-19 testing it genuinely surprised me.

Could CRISPR Be used to alter what an embryos height would be? the articles talk mainly about diseases and mutations but not anything trait specific.

It was interesting that they are using CRISPR on insects such as Mosquitoes.

In what other ways can this be used to stop the transfer of diseases from animals to humans?

I didn't know gene therapy existed until today. I thought it is really interesting that it is even possible. I also didn't except scientists to have been working on it since 1989.

Does anyone else feel that this can lead to unethical practices, maybe even heavily monetized for some to have an advantage?

Reading this post and watching the video really quite inspired me for the future of medical science, and what we as humans can accomplish, it feels one step closer to cool futuristic body mods or superpowers.

Emily DeJesus:

-CRISPR Gene Therapy: Applications, Limitations, and Implications for the Future

The medical journal explains both CRISPR’s promising applications and its setbacks. These setbacks caused several children to get leukemia and other off-target effects. CRISPR shows promise for the medical future but not without serious risk.

-How CRISPR works, explained in two minutes.

The video explains what a gene is, how CRISPR functions, and its application. Rewriting genes is easiest in utero to integrate the therapy.  CRISPR gene therapy can also remove genetic illnesses in a fetus by cutting, pasting, and repairing DNA sequences.

Personally, I was excited at the idea of CRISPR until I skimmed over the unsuccessful clinical trials. At times I wondered if the author privately advocates or opposes CRISPR. I believe more tests on specific animals would mitigate risk on people.

At the end of the paper, the author addresses ethical concerns for the use of CRISPR for non medical purposes. They suggest it may become a gateway for editing offspring for aesthetics. I ask this question, would you consider aesthetic use of gene editing on one’s own offspring ‘unethical’? What stance do you think the author would take?

Does anyone think the drawbacks of something this ethical could be severe? Is anyone worried about the ethics of this at all?

It was interesting to see the progression of scientific discoveries and developments but I hope this goes in a more positive direction than negative. this type of technology is way more valuable than flying cars or even Ai.

The journal, CRISPR Gene Therapy: Applications, Limitations, and Implications for the Future, goes more into the study, which I think the most important highlight is the proof this needs a lot more testing and improvement before it is able to be fully implicated. The usage has unfortunately shown results of giving different types of cancers, and other unintended consequences occurring.

How might this idea be applied if used in the sense of appearance? Would it be able to be used to edit a person physical attributes before they are even born?

I am confused on how they are able to directly target what it is they they intend to change. I understand the concept, but am intrigued on how far this study and application is able to go with further advances.

I wondered if this technique will be able to help with "man-kinds dream" of immortality, though on a more serious note, I do think that the gene therapy practice could go incredibly far and would be amazing to see, though it could cause many problems and was thinking about what they could be?

I didn't expect to be reading and watching videos about gene therapy so soon after watching videos about the various kinds of aging and what parts of what living things cause them to be "immortal", and was wondering if these two subjects are, could be, or will be related.

What would happen if something were to go wrong in the process?

Its very interesting to see that they have created a way for people that have genetic diseases to be able to have children of their own.

Could this technology be used to modify physical characteristics such as eyes, bone structure, or other features, besides disease genes?

I am impressed by these medical advancements that are improving the ability to prevent genetic diseases. These developments could provide many families with the opportunity for better health or create a family on their own.

I was shocked to read that human embryos were tested on, especially the fact that it ended up producing unexpected mutations. It is so disappointing not only that somebody felt that was an acceptable thing to do but also that it did not even result in a positive outcome. It leaves me questioning, to what extent are researchers and scientists willing to cross the line of ethical testing in the name of medical advancement?

One question we should be asking about CRISPR is what is the limit? At what point do we draw the lines on what should, what shouldn't, or even how much we edit something.

I am surprised to hear that CRISPR was originally developed to help fight viruses. I always thought it was mainly for modifying plants but it potentially being a way to combat future pandemics is really cool.

Some safety concerns have come up during research. How do scientists decide when a powerful gene-editing tool like CRISPR is safe enough to start testing on humans?

I'm amazed by how far science has come. It's incredible to think that we now have the ability to alter human DNA using tools like CRISPR or gene therapy.

Where is the limit on this type of technology and who is responsible for keeping it in check and not creating bioweapons or superhumans?

I think this is great technology only if used for it's intended purpose. Something is going to go very wrong at some more, and cause more harm than it was ever intended to. I'm all for medical advancement but sometimes you have to wonder if this is the right path?

If CRISPR becomes widely available, who should decide how it’s used scientists, governments, or individuals and what could be the consequences of that decision?

I didn’t expect how quickly CRISPR is moving from labs to real treatments, which makes me wonder if society is prepared to handle the ethical debates.

how will CRISPR be accessed abd will it even be financially accessible for the common person? even if so what are the long term plans and limits on such tampering?

i genuinely think this is a great development in technology but i cant act like im not terrified of the possibilities of the manny ways it could be taken advangtage of. I hope the integrity of this project stays intact and cant truly be the help its being set up to be.