https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8 How would Romantics and Transcendentalists respond to changing human DNA? en-us 2018-10-10 00:56:26 UTC 2018-10-10 01:39:14 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Xmastree.png 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291039585 1. “Questions and Answers about CRISPR.” Broad Institute, 4 Aug. 2018, www.broadinstitute.org/what-broad/areas-focus/project-spotlight/questions-and-answers-about-crispr.
2. Kurzgesagt. “Genetic Engineering Will Change Everything Forever – CRISPR.” YouTube, YouTube, 10 Aug. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhjPd4uNFY.
3. Joseph, Andrew. “CRISPR, Moving out of the Lab, Brings Tough Questions into the Clinic.” STAT, STAT, 9 Oct. 2018, www.statnews.com/2018/10/09/as-it-moves-out-of-the-lab-crispr-brings-tough-questions-into-the-clinic/. ]]> 2018-10-10 00:37:16 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291039585 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291039639 CRISPR is a genetic editing tool found in the defense systems of bacteria. The bacteria, when attacked by viruses, can keep some of the DNA of the virus if it survives. The bacteria can then take the DNA and add it to its own DNA strands using a system in the bacteria called CAS-9. Once the DNA is added, the bacteria can protect its DNA, effectively changing the DNA of the bacteria without a new bacteria being created.]]> 2018-10-10 00:37:33 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291039639 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291040207 CRISPR is a great alternative to the genetic editing methods that were used before CRISPR was discovered. While humans have learned how to create different species of plants and animals and change their traits over time through selective breeding, CRISPR is much more effective. The process is extremely cheap compared to previous methods, and the process can be do ]]> 2018-10-10 00:41:22 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291040207 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291043290 The technology was discovered by Francisco Mojica in 1993, when he was studying archaea bacteria in Spain and realized that virus DNA was kept in bacteria after viruses had attacked the bacteria. In 2013, it was more closely monitored, and scientists began working with the technology in the genomes of mouse and human cells. ]]> 2018-10-10 01:00:08 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291043290 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291044402 CRISPR, despite seeming somewhat useless at first, can have many amazing outcomes. Changing the genomes of humans could mean getting rid of genetic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Down Syndrome, or even possibly cancer, and once the details are worked out, the technology could even be used to change the basic DNA traits of humans, being able to change a baby's hair color, eye color, prevent diseases, or change other parts of the DNA. ]]> 2018-10-10 01:07:18 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291044402 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291045623 It could even be used to stop aging entirely if the deterioration of cells could be stopped. Either way, CRISPR, once the terms of editing are improved, can be a very promising tool.]]> 2018-10-10 01:14:47 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291045623 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291045676 The idea of completely changing the DNA of an individual could possibly terrify Romantics, who believe in the natural beauty of Man. Romantics and Transcendentalists both had views on the divine beauty of the universe and the things that nature and the universe have created, respectively. While this may seem like a normal step in evolution for some humans today, the thinkers of this time would most likely be appalled to the idea of disrupting beauty.]]> 2018-10-10 01:14:59 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291045676 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291046749 While Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story about a woman's birthmark shows that beauty is natural and cannot be changed because Nature decided it so, this technology attempts to completely revert that. Instead of dealing with the issues given to a person at birth, scientists could soon potentially move diseases entirely from individuals. The idea of disrupting nature in such an abrupt way would most likely appall Romantics such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, as ideas such as these were shot down in his story, as well as by other Romantics of the time.]]> 2018-10-10 01:21:11 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291046749 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291047336 Some authors may even believe that the spiritual side of these individuals who are trying to change themselves has been tainted by the wrong cause. The spirituality of individuals often takes over in Romantic works and leaves people clinging onto fantasy and impossible ideas, while the more grounded and real individuals represent the morality of the situations they are in. This is essentially a fight against morality, as humans are trying to fight old age and deadly diseases. For most Romantics and Transcendentalists, this would seem like a step away from reason, as humans are testing the limits of morality and are attempting to beat morality, just like the individuals who attempt to fight the ideas of their fate in the Romantic works, and end up paying the price for it.]]> 2018-10-10 01:24:21 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291047336 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291048542 2018-10-10 01:31:28 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291048542 7972597472 https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291048739 1. Dixon, Stephen "Artist's depiction of the CRISPR..." Broad Institute, 4 Aug. 2018, https://www.broadinstitute.org/files/generic-page/images/2014/CRISPR-spotlight.jpg
2. Stockton, Nick. “How Crispr Could Snip Away Some of Humanity's Worst Diseases.” Wired, Conde Nast, 3 June 2017, www.wired.com/2017/05/crispr-snip-away-humanitys-worst-diseases/.]]> 2018-10-10 01:32:43 UTC https://padlet.com/7972597472/ljkxewh1jul8/wish/291048739