Sunday, December 13, 2015

If you could change your DNA, would you?




                Chinese researchers may have been asking themselves the samequestion when they tried to alter the DNA of nonviable human embryos. Their experiment failed and most of the embryos showed unexpected mutations. As of right now there is a moratorium for human research, but there still is unknown of the future. Individuals might change their DNA, in spite of the risk it might cause. Roger Mello has envisioned the results of a world who could alter their genes to be whatever they want.

                If I had the chance to alter myself, I wouldn’t. Even though there are some things I don’t like I would never change them. I feel like you’re getting in the way of fate. If everyone could create themselves, don’t you think we would all look the same? I don’t know about you but I like being different. 

6 comments:

  1. I find this interesting because this is basically what Hitler tried to do. I know I would never change myself because I was made the way I am. I personally feel changing human DNA is evil and that losing out ethics isn't worth any reward.

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  2. I agree with you, I wouldn't want to alter my DNA in anyway if I had the chance to. I feel that it would be too risky and may cause more harm then good.

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  3. Your DNA makes up who you are, that's not something that should be messed with. Genetics is so great because its about natural process that allows for so many different combinations and variances that make individuals. They're are always risks when trying to manipulate DNA and if people started doing it commonly, nature would have to have some type of retaliation for doing its job.

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  4. While altering DNA for aesthetic reasons seems unethical, it could be useful for millions of people living with genetic diseases that are debilitating. I believe that the altering of DNA could help many people live normal lives and therefore should be researched.

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  5. Personally, some genes, like those for disease, I could see being popular to be removed. Like facial reconstruction/plastic surgery was made originally for those whose faces and bodies were destroyed in war/accidents and then became popular for aesthetic reasons. being able to do that with genes, and being affordable, would be amazing for people who could find permanent treatment for genetic diseases.

    The ethics get sketchy when its currently only for embryos. But if somehow genes can be altered while in a living person, that will be interesting. For now, this seems like an interesting step, especially when editing eukaryotic DNA is still relatively new and more tricky than those of prokaryotes.

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  6. I would also choose not to change my DNA. Mainly because everyone was made different for a reason. We are all not supposed to look like clones of each other. Even plastic surgery to me I cannot quite get across my mind to ever get it. Also, mutations would come about from changing DNA and I would not want to risk that just to change something about myself.

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