See article by clicking on link in title above.
In this disturbingly optimistic article (even in the title -- our language is that technology moves “forward”) we see some of the ethical struggles current with the new CRISPR genetic manipulation technology.
There are a few pros and cons, including glee at the idea that health issues can be fixed with the flip of a DNA switch in the fingers of a scientist, and a fair grace is given to genetic decisions affecting the proceeding generations. How about the testing it assumes as a basic necessity for this kind of technology?
It seems we now naturally qualify the embryo that’s being tested with an explanation, because for some reason we understand the testing of wanted babies for scientific progress directly assaults humanity. It’s OK, it’s an unwanted baby that’s undergoing experimentation.
How about picking genetic traits? A poor side effect in the article, I’m reminded that my blue eyes and psychologist father were picked for their features without a second thought.
The author shows some concern for the kind of numbness that happens as society adjusts to technologies, whether it be to the smart phone or taking the pill:
“(He) predicted that worries about the technology would dissipate as people got more comfortable with gene editing.”
…as will ethics. Babies are now avoided in sex rather than freely created and welcomed. As a last resort, we people from “reproductive” technologies are made the least wanted children. This goes without mentioning the child created with the murder of his many siblings (those that are mentioned in this article as the two-sperm, rejected embryos that are used for CRISPR testing). How do you think they cope with this reality as adults?