Genetically modified silkworms produced pure spider silk

 Genetically modified silkworms produced pure spider silk

        Researchers from China have successfully used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing to modify silkworms to produce spider silk, a material known for its strength and toughness. This breakthrough spider silk, while not as strong or stretchy as natural spider silk, is significantly tougher than Kevlar and could have applications in medical sutures and bulletproof vests. However, challenges remain in mass production, including ensuring the genetic modifications are stable over generations and maintaining the health of the silkworms, which are vulnerable to infection and produce varying quality silk. The second article confirms that the silk of spiders is composed of thousands of nanostrands, each only 20 millionths of a millimeter in diameter, which could lead to advances in creating new materials for medical (such as sutures) and engineering applications.

This article is a remarkable example of how genetic engineering can create materials with enhanced properties for practical applications. The fact that this modified silk is tougher than Kevlar yet potentially suitable for medical use like sutures demonstrates the versatility and potential of biologically engineered materials. However, the challenges in mass production and ensuring consistent quality due to silkworm vulnerability highlight the complexities involved in mass producing spider silk. Modifying the genetic structure of silkworms may result in unexpected health problems or distress since their bodies are not inherently adapted to create such material. In addition, it’s important to remember that silkworms are living organisms and while technologicalmass-producing advancements are important, we should remember the consequences of turning these organisms into such biofactories.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/first-genetically-modified-silkworms-spider-silk

https://www.science.org/content/article/spider-silk-five-times-stronger-steel-now-scientists-know-why

China 'clone factory' scientist eyes human replication

In china there is an industry called Boyalife Group that has the capability to clone humans but has held off to do so because of public reaction. In time they suggest people will be more open to the possibility of cloning, so people will soon in the future have choices of their own reproduction. A possibility they proposed is that you can have three choices, 50-50 between mom and dad or 100 percent mom or dad. There is a controversy whether cloned beef is safe for human consumption and Europe has placed a ban on animal cloning and products in the food chain. Chief executive Xu Xiachun states that he wants to reassure to the public that cloning is not a crazy idea and scientists are not weird people doing crazy experiments behind closed doors. Currently they are working on cloning a woolly mammoth back from extinction form preservatives from thousands of years ago. 

This article amazing me of how much human life has progressed. This idea of cloning humans and animals back from the dead raises many ethical issues. Who knows what may the animal be like in the new environment. With cloned beef of animals and our consumption scares me to think this hasnt been already done without our knowledge. Many food we eat now are chemically processed so what is genetic cloning any different and what can this do to our own bodies. It is remarkable how much technology is advancing and the possibilities of the future is unimaginable to think we can clone our own bodies or other beings. Maybe through cloning we could find out more about how our body works in a deeper level. 

Gene Editing Tool 

There was a three-day meeting in Washington with hundreds of scientists and ethicists from twenty different countries to discuss the hot new tool. The new tool is capable of editing the human genetic code to correct any flaw. David Baltimore of the California Institute of Technology said “We could be on the cusp of a new era in human history.” Some of the thoughts are when, if ever, would we want to use gene editing to change human inheritance? A molecular biologist named Jennifer Duodena also mentioned “That really does raise the issue of, how do we use this technology in a responsible fashion.” It’s a fine line of debate, should we use this tool to help with sickness or will it eventually be used for cutting and pasting genes into ideal human traits?

I personally think that they should not allow the use of the genetic editing tool. We are all humans we all make mistakes, by correcting our flaws or sickness we’d be all the same. Its great to have diversity good or bad. Without the bad we can not appreciate how fortunate we are to be healthy. I say we leave it up to mother earth to pick and choose which genes are our true match.

                                                           Genetic Testing: Is it Ethical?

 In this article we explore the case of Amanda Baxley, who made the decision to have her children through the process of invitro fertilization. She had discovered that she had the gene for Gertsmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease otherwise known as GSS, a fatal disease. This disease has been passed down for generations and Baxley decided that she would not let her predecessors suffer the same fate. Over the course of ten years, the process of invitro fertilization has improved drastically. However, testing and the actual process ensures that a child at risk for a disability would be born healthy, the cost is often not covered under insurance.

There has been great debate on whether or not the procedure is ethical. Many question whether it is right to discard the embryo with a faulty gene. In regards to the ethicality of genetic testing an in vitro fertilization, I feel that if there is a possibility for a child with a high risk of disability to be born healthy and lead a normal life, the opportunity should be taken by all means. As an embryo. the sperm and egg have not developed into a living breathing human being and therefore discarded embryo's with faulty genes should not be seen is the loss of a life but the prevention of leading a difficult life.  

Primary Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/health/ethics-questions-arise-as-genetic-testing-of-embryos-increases.html

Secondary Article: http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/in-vitro-fertilization/