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EUGENICS- THE FUTURE OF GENETICS
Brian Jordahl([email protected])
INTRODUCTION
Consider for a moment the possibility that scientists
could engineer your baby to have blue eyes and blonde
hair, or to ensure that they have no genetic mutations.
Consider the possibility that scientists could decide how
a person will look, what diseases they may carry, or
how they may act before the person is even conceived.
This notion may sound preposterous, as if it were stolen
from the plot of a science fiction novel. This
technology, often called modern eugenics, involves the
manipulation of the genes inside of an embryo to alter
the fetus. The technology is very controversial, and is
not currently legal in many places, however, as
realization of it’s true potential comes about and it
begins to be used, people will begin to reap the benefits
of this new technology.
Sir Francis Galton coined the term Eugenics in
1883 to describe the manipulation of social factors and
societal living conditions to enhance the standard of life
for people living in hopes of ameliorating the future
generations [1]. The term’s meaning changed as time
passed, especially in the 1930’s and 1940’s, with the
rise of the Nazi Party. Their idea of eugenics was only
allowing those whom they deemed “fit” to reproduce to
do so. This led to the mass genocide of people they
considered “unfit” in order to create their own Aryan
race, a race of people who were superior to everyone
else in all aspects [2]. Modern eugenics is now a
scientific idea to describe the manipulation of genes of
people or fetuses in order to enhance their quality of
life. The specific technology to be discussed here is
often termed “Negative Genetic Engineering.” Positive
genetic engineering is the altering of embryonic genes
in order to enhance the fetus’s quality of life by
increasing their mental capabilities or augmenting other
important attributes. Negative genetic engineering refers
to the manipulation of genes in order to treat or cure
diseases, which are caused by genetic mutations.
HOW AND WHY IT WORKS
There are multiple ways to alter the genes of a
person/embryo. One technique, that already exists, is for
people who are living and fully formed and it involves
implanting a virus with RNA which has been corrected
to cure the genetic disease that the person has. This
University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering 1
2014-10-21
RNA will be converted into DNA by the virus and then
imbedded into the cells of the person.
Another way, which this paper will focus on, is by
changing the genotypes of the fertilized egg before it is
implanted into the mother. This process is done during
In Vitro Fertilization which is the process of creating a
human embryo by implanting the sperm cell directly
into the egg cell. The fertilized egg cell can then be
screened for genetic mutations associated with disease
and disorders by a process known as Pre-Implantation
Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)[3]. This process ensures that
the implanted embryo is free of disease causing
mutations, preventing health complications in the future.
PGD is also a very controversial process as eggs found
to have genetic disorders are often discarded. Another
option for pre-implantation therapy is to alter the
genotypes of the embryo after fertilization. This option
is a very technical process, but a common technique for
accomplishing this is to implant the bacteria
Agrobacterium Tumefasciens [4] with the altered DNA
to replace the disease causing DNA. A third technique
to accomplish the same goal by replacing faulty DNA
with new is to insert DNA into a carrier protein called a
vector. This vector can cut the genetic chain and insert
the corrected gene into the chain [5]. The procedure has
a low success rate as of now because the genes are
much too small to simply implant them in the correct
place, so where the genes are implanted is not a factor
that can be controlled. These techniques, in general, are
much more successful than gene therapy in adults
because the implantation does not have to work in
trillions of cells. For adult gene therapy, all of the cells
of the body have already been created, and therefore
must all be replaced with new cells. In the case of
replacement before implantation, there are no old cells
to slow the process. This method fixes the problem
before it even is a problem. By doing this treatment it
helps the embryo and all further generations as well
because the altered DNA will now be passed along.
Negative genetic engineering has the capability of
treating or curing genetic diseases such as hemophilia,
Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(SCIDS), congenital blindness and muscular dystrophy
among others.
Brian Jordahl
could make people’s lives easier and improve their
quality of life principally intrigues me; to think that I
could have a part in the elimination of some very
serious genetic diseases is exhilarating. I feel that this
technology and the ability to completely rid people of
these crippling disorders would truly increase the
quality of life for everyone. The people afflicted can
live easier lives, as too can those who are forced to care
for those whom are suffering. As well, bills could
decrease for those afflicted, as constant treatment for
people with these disorders can get incredibly
expensive. A topic like this expresses my main goals as
a bioengineer of trying to increase the quality of life for
society. I want to be a part of projects, research and
work that helps to create better lives for everyone. This
is how I see engineering as a whole; I envision it as
creating and formulating ideas and projects that will
make people’s lives easier.
THE POTENTIAL OF THIS
TECHNOLOGY
Despite the current low success rate, as better
protocols are discovered the potential of this life
changing procedure continues to grow. As of now,
many genetic diseases can be debilitating for those
plagued by them. Hemophiliacs live in constant fear of
even the most minor cuts and scrapes because they lack
enough platelets in their bodies, which are the element
of blood that helps to clot. Also, people suffering from
Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Syndrome often
cannot even go into public without fear of contracting
infectious diseases because their bodies lack the
lymphocytes necessary to fight infection [6]. The
treatment or even eradication of these ruthless genetic
diseases would benefit society as a whole in ways that
people would have never thought possible. People live
in constant fear of having children because of the
concern that their children will be plagued with these
awful disorders. The ability to lessen this mental burden
and allow for people to freely reproduce and have
healthy children can help everyone’s state of mind.
Also, there are caretakers and people who have to spend
time and money taking care of the people plagued by
these disorders. Living expenses for these people will
decrease and so too will they gain time back that
previously would have been spent struggling to cope
with their disease. Furthermore, if this technique of
manipulating genes is made better it may help gene
therapy for adults. Gene therapy could work to cure
other disorders related to people’s genetics, like cancer.
As of now, scientists have tried to cure cancer by
altering the genes inside of cells, which have been
mutated. These mutated genes cause proteins to be
produced incorrectly, often leading to an influx of the
proteins. When these proteins are too abundant, the cell
begins to proliferate uncontrollably, causing cancer cell
growth [7]. By manipulating the genes in these cells,
they can slow the growth of the cancer cells. If this
process of manipulating genes can be enhanced to the
point that scientists can be confident in it’s success, then
we may be able to find cures and treatments for even
more disorders than just those which have been
previously discussed.
WHY THIS TECHNOLOGY IS
WORTH IT
The potential of Eugenics in the future of genetic
diseases is staggering and exhilarating. The ability to
alter the genes of a person or embryo, especially before
implantation into the mother, is incredible and
invaluable. To be able to rid a family of a genetic
disease that has plagued them for generations, or to
ensure a normal life for someone otherwise doomed to a
life of struggle with medications and constant medical
attention could change families, relationships and
society as a whole in incredible ways. Time and money
must be devoted to this potentially life changing
procedure as it helps more than just the person being
treated. Being able to save all of the future generations
of a bloodline from a condition that could afflict all of
the people within a family would mean a completely
different life for them. These families would be able to
have children with a clear mind and not have to worry
about the struggle that comes along with terrible
diseases like hemophilia and SCIDS. Eugenics can, and
should, be the future of genetics and treatment of
disorders that have plagued even the most well known
families of the world. Work must be done to end the
struggle that has been fought with genetic disorders to
create a better life for everyone.
PERSONAL IMPORTANCE
REFERENCES
Some engineers create cars that can run on alternate
fuels while others develop new hearts to help those with
life threatening heart diseases. No matter what they are
inventing, engineers’ main goal is to increase the quality
of life for others. As an aspiring Bioengineer with a
particular interest in genetics, this topic especially
grabbed my attention during research. The idea that I
[1] (2014) Eugenics(First Edition) [Online]. Available:
http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/colu
mency/eugenics/0
[2] L. Hix. (2009, July 23). Modern Eugenics: Building
a better person?(First Edition) [Online] Available:
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Brian Jordahl
http://helix.northwestern.edu/article/moderneugenics-building-better-person
[3] American Pregnancy Association. (2014,
September). Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis:
PGD. [Online] Available:
http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/preimplant
ation-genetic-diagnosis/
[4] PSRAST. (2011, December). How are genes
engineered? [Online] Available:
http://www.psrast.org/whisge.htm
[5] Genetics Home Reference. (2014, September 22).
How does gene therapy work? [Article] Available:
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/therapy/procedure
s
[6] American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy. (2010).
Gene Therapy for Genetic Disorders [Online]
Available:
http://www.asgct.org/about_gene_therapy/diseases.
php
[7] MD Anderson Cancer Center. (2014). Gene Therapy
[Online]. Available:
http://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancerinformation/cancer-information/cancertopics/cancer-treatment/chemotherapy/genetherapy/index.html
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
Council for Responsible Genetics. (2013). Human Genetic
Engineering Current Science and Ethical
Implications [Online}. Available:
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/page
documents/yn3rbrq4go.pdf
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the librarians of the Bevier
Engineering Library and my writing instructor, Janine
Carlock, for their help in choosing a topic, developing ideas
and facilitating the writing process. I would also like to
thank my friends and floormates of Floor Four Nordenberg
Hall as we discussed topics and helped to generate ideas for
this assignment.
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