Unnatural Selection: Episode 1- Cut, Paste, Life

At first, I didn’t know that human evolution could be changed, but my thoughts changed
after watching the Cut, Paste, Life documentary. Genetic engineering has pros and cons, and this
documentary shows those things. One of the discoveries in genome editing is the use of
CRISPR-Cas9.
According to the co-discoverer of CRISPR-Cas9, Jennifer Doudna, the Cas9 protein
works as a molecular scalpel to control where it changes a DNA sequence. Prof. Juan Izpisua
Belmonte said that CRISPR technology has opened up our imagination, which is I think it is true.
We can indeed use this technology to enhance our intellectual and physical abilities. Based on
my observations, Filipinos tend to lighten their skin because they want to look like white people,
such as in western countries. Also, because of our judgmental society, they want lighter skin to
reduce the likelihood of being bullied because of dark-colored skin, known as 'kayumanggi.' If
this technology can unlock the possibility of wanting lighter skin, perhaps many Filipinos won't
use various whitening products to lighten their complexion because they will be what they want
to be in a single operation of CRISPR-Cas9. It totally shows that CRISPR is a good technology
too in terms of medication because there has been successfully applied in treating various types
of inherited diseases in children such as cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, and sickle cell anemia.

In my thinking, the downside of this CRISPR is that Biohackers like Josiah Zayner sell
his CRISPR kits to let other people use this for them to effectively create a CRISPR targeting
system for a gene with little effort or knowledge about the biotech tool. I understand that he’s
only trying to introduce it to everyone, but it is scary and disturbing to do experiments using
CRISPR at home. Out of curiosity, the person who bought from him might use it for themselves
even though his kits are not intended for humans. It is still dangerous to make such a thing like
this, especially if you’re not a professional in the genetic engineering field.

To conclude, these discoveries are eye-opening and a sign of hope to some of us, like the
ten-year-old Jackson Higgins, who’s undergoing therapy treatment for his genetic eye disorder
with the help and use of revolutionary technology. Let’s hope that these kinds of genetic editing
tools will only aim to help plants, animals, and especially humans and not to any self-satisfaction
or power.