Lilly Pagano || 155644F

2018 Stage 2 Biology

Assessment Type 1: Investigation Folio # 2 - Science as a Human Endeavour Task

This report will discuss genome editing using a new technology known as CRISPR Cas9.
This is a DNA editing technology that can remove unwanted genes and traits in order to
clear disease or enhance human qualities. The main areas of research this report will Comment [BW1]: ?
focus on are ethics and societal implications of using genetic engineering. This Comment [BW2]: “the ethical and
social”
technology has many purposes for improving human lives but could lead to health
complications as well as increasing the divide between people of different economical Comment [BW3]: ?
situations. The key concepts of Science as a Human Endeavour that will be analyses
of social and economic Applications and Limitations. The possible benefits or Comment [BW4]: “analysed are
the”
unexpected consequences will be discussed and differing opinions on the topic will
be aired to provide insight to the public debate. Comment [BW5]: This seems to
repeat the previous sentence
“ethics and societal”
The name CRISPR stands for Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic
Repeats REF. This technology was discovered when researching how a virus infects a Comment [BW6]: What does this
mean?
host cell REF. The virus will inject their own DNA into the cell that change the function of
that cell. The CRISPR system can take that DNA from the virus and insert it into the Comment [BW7]: What kind of
host?
chromosome at the ‘CRISPR’ site. The CRISPR site allows cells to record the viruses they
Comment [BW8]: Factual
have been exposed to. These DNA records are passed down to the cells progeny so that statements need referencing.
future cells are also protected. Scientist Blake Wiedenheft says “The CRISPR locus is Please review and address.
effectively a genetic vaccination card in cells.” After those piece of DNA have been Comment [BW9]: How?
inserted the cell creates a small copy of RNA from the viral DNA. This RNA binds with a Comment [BW10]: ?
Cas9 protein to form a complex that searches through DNA to find sites that match the Comment [BW11]: Unclear.
RNA sequence and cut them away. (Doudna, 2019) This is known as a Cas9 RNA Sentinel Comment [BW12]: Good. Immune
Complex and acts as scissors to make, in theory, very precise breaks in DNA. The cell system
then detect the broken DNA and repairs it REF. Comment [BW13]: Are you talking
about the CRISPR technology to
insert new genes or the Cas-9
ability to degrade viral DNA?

Figures if coming from places must

be referenced.

(Figure 1. Cas9 protein in the process of replacing a section of DNA.)

DNA is repaired either by pasting together the ends of the DNA or integrating a new
piece of DNA at the site of the break. This can cause massive deletions and
rearrangements of DNA that are sometimes 1000s of bases long (Page, 2019). The
creators of CRISPR claim the technology can delete or insert ‘specific’ bits of DNA with
Lilly Pagano || 155644F
2018 Stage 2 Biology
Assessment Type 1: Investigation Folio # 2 - Science as a Human Endeavour Task

‘precision’ but other studies have shown the system have unintended effects (Page, Comment [BW14]: Such as?
2019).

Regardless of undetermined unintended consequences the CRISPR ha already been used Comment [BW15]: ?
in the DNA of mice and monkeys and even human embryos in China. (Doudna, 2019) Comment [BW16]: To do what?
Although different forms of gene editing have been around for some time the CRISPR
system is the most recent discovery and was contrived by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Comment [BW17]: When? Not
been mentioned yet
Charpentier. It is essential to understand this concept and how the technology works
as it links to the ethical considerations surrounding the issue.

The applications and limitations are determined through the realistic restrictions of Comment [BW18]: Who determines
what is realistic?
the technology e.g. what it can and can not do. Associate professor Greg Neely
acknowledges the ethical barriers of a gene editing system with out exact and controlled
precision (Scimex, 2019).
He believes that even though CRISPR will eventually revolutionize medicine, “there will
inevitably be some mistakes.” As a result, the ethical limitation need to be further discussed
to determine what should be legal in this area of research. Neely doesn’t see CRISPR as a
huge technological advancement as gene editing technology was already available but
rather a jump starts to the conversation of whether it should be used or not. Professor
Nigel McMillan has a more optimistic view on the CRISPR breakthrough (Scimex, 2019).
He believes this new technology really addresses the previous problems with gene
manipulation and is a big leap forward. McMillan focuses on the possible application for
alleviation of suffering including cystic fibrosis and heart disease. He also believes CRISPR
has the ability to manipulate non-therapeutic features or desirable traits such as height
whereas Neely believes it to be very unrealistic. McMillan only briefly acknowledges the
ethical questions raised. Comment [BW19]: What are the
ethical questions. There’s a lot of
information on breakthroughs and
applications but not the ethics of
The community receives most of its information about CRISP through news out lets such as using it.
Make sure that you focus on the
TV shows, local/national news programs, and social media. This information can be SHE concepts.
sensationalized or contain incorrect information to get more views (Blog, 2019). Comment [BW20]: ?R
Even with completely accurate information gene editing is a highly interesting topic of Comment [BW21]: Are you
science for society. For example, a popular HBO show had segment on CRISPR which gained introducing Communication and
over 4.5 million views. Scientists themselves often don’t know how to start a public collaboration?

conversation or may find it hard to discus ethics with those the treatment will effect. This Comment [BW22]: What effect
does this have? Can it be
leaves it up to these news outlets to inform and begin these debates. (BPS Blog, 2019) addressed?
The public may not have any practical interactions with CRISPR technology because of the
impossible cost. These treatments range from about $500 000 to $1.5m (The Independent,
2019). Health systems may not be able to handle the bill considering 10% of the population
has a rare genetic condition. This has led insurance companies to issue policies that Comment [BW23]: Technology
costs tend to decrease over time –
specifically exclude gene therapy from coverage (STAT, 2019). This information comes from is this the case with CRISPR?
a blog written by scientist for scientist with tips and trick for discussing scientific topics with
the public. It may be the case that the scientific community is out of touch with the common Comment [BW24]: Why? How does
man. The exponential costs and lack of widespread information regarding CRISPR this statement demonstrate this?
Comment [BW25]: ?
Lilly Pagano || 155644F
2018 Stage 2 Biology
Assessment Type 1: Investigation Folio # 2 - Science as a Human Endeavour Task

technology can cause the public to be excluded and limit the possible applications for a
variety of people. The availability of information about the product and the product itself
are the most important features for public involvement (Asme.org, 2019). A survey of public
attitudes on human genome editing shows 67.2% of General Adults have never heard of
gene editing technology at all (Uchiyama, Nagai and Muto, 2019). The Parliament of Australia
states that ‘In public participation interactions, dialogue and, ideally, deliberation take place.’
(Asme.org, 2019) This means the simple conveying of information is not enough to actually
engage the community. The conversation requires civilians to answer subjective questions and
put forward an opinion. Comment [BW26]: Relevance?
Seems out of place

CRISPR treatments are limited by the ethical implications of the technology. Throughout the
scientific community, there is a debate on the ethics of changing genes in unborn embryos.
Jennifer Doudna, the creator of CRISPR has called for a global pause of any clinical
application in human embryo so that the discussion isn’t rushed (Doudna, 2019). Start up
companies and invertors have realized there is lots of money to be made in CRISPR
technology. CRISPR treatments could improve the lives of patients suffering from genetic Comment [BW27]: Which means?
How does this relate to a “global
diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, or Huntington’s Disease (Doudna, 2019). pause”?
Some lives would also be improved if CRISPR is able to give humans more of desirable trait
they want such as no baldness, high IQ, 20/20 vision, low risk of Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, Comment [BW28]: Are these
important to improved quality of
strokes. However revolutionary this technology is, it is important to acknowledge the risks. life?
Because of the extreme cost of treatments, it is likely that only the wealthiest people will be
Comment [BW29]: Should these be
able to afford CRISPR. Physical beauty and height have been found to correlate with greater in the same sentence as the
success and income. The acquisition of more of these desirable traits will further the gap preceding 3 traits?
between the rich and the poor (Med.nyu.edu, 2019). Humanity has also been down this path Comment [BW30]: Nice link.
before. In the 1900s eugenics were used to ‘improve the human race’. As a result, tens of
thousands of people with documented mental illness were forcefully sterilized (Blog, 2019).
There is also the risk of turning cells cancerous through the mass deletions of genes. If this Comment [BW31]: How?
treatment was applied to billions of cells in the body, the problem is obvious (Page, 2019).

There are many incredible possible uses for CRISPR Cas9 technology but there also many
undeniable risks. There are still kinks to work out in the ethical acceptance of clinical trials. Comment [BW32]: Can this be re-
worked? Ethics relate to the trials
Scientists and the community need to work together to have this discussion not to our acceptance of the trials.
appropriately in a public debate. The application of CRISPR is not only limited by
these ethical considerations but also by the large costs that would be funded by
patients. It is unclear the extent of the future applications for CRISPR but if they are
to be discovered we need to develop solutions for the unexpected consequences
the technology produces.

References
Doudna, J. (2019). How CRISPR lets us edit our DNA. [online] Ted.com. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_doudna_we_can_now_edit_our_dna_but_let_s_do_it_wisely?lang
uage=en [Accessed 16 May 2019].
Lilly Pagano || 155644F
2018 Stage 2 Biology
Assessment Type 1: Investigation Folio # 2 - Science as a Human Endeavour Task

Page, M. (2019). CRISPR gene editing is not quite as precise and as safe as thought. [online] New
Scientist. Available at: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2174149-crispr-gene-editing-is-not-quite-
as-precise-and-as-safe-as-thought/ [Accessed 16 May 2019].

BPS Blog. (2019). CRISPR: Facts, Myths, and How to Engage the Public. [online] The Biophysical
Society. Available at: https://www.biophysics.org/blog/crispr-facts-myths-and-how-to-engage-the-
public [Accessed 16 May 2019].

Scimex. (2019). EXPERT REACTION: CRISPR used in human embryos. [online] Available at:
https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/crispr-used-in-human-embryos [Accessed 16 May 2019].

The Independent. (2019). Gene therapies are now available, but at a substantial cost. [online]
Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/gene-therapy-cost-rare-
genetic-diseases-treatment-expensive-research-a8275391.html [Accessed 16 May 2019].

STAT. (2019). Who will pay for CRISPR?. [online] Available at:
https://www.statnews.com/2017/06/26/crispr-insurance-companies-pay/ [Accessed 16 May 2019].

Asme.org. (2019). 8 Ways CRISPR-Cas9 Can Change the World. [online] Available at:
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/bioengineering/8-ways-crisprcas9-can-change-world
[Accessed 16 May 2019].

Med.nyu.edu. (2019). [online] Available at:

https://med.nyu.edu/highschoolbioethics/sites/default/files/highschoolbioethics/Genetic%20Editing%2
0Module.pdf [Accessed 16 May 2019].

Uchiyama, M., Nagai, A. and Muto, K. (2019). Survey on the perception of germline genome editing
among the general public in Japan.