Would you like to change the genes of their future children to make them smarter, stronger or prettier? To the extent that, as science is closer to reality, ignite the international controversy about the ethics of improving human capabilities with the help of biotechnology: smart pills, brain implants and editing of genes. Last year the flames of this debate has added a tool to edit the genes of CRISPR/Cas9, which expanded the range of possibilities of games with DNA with the aim of improving the intellectual, sporting and even moral qualities. Very soon we will be able to edit the DNA of people to treat, e.g., cancer. And there to the “edited” children it comes. Bioethicist George. Owen Schaefer is confident that China will lead this topic.
So we are on the verge of a brave new world of genetically modified humanity. Possible. On the face of this world there is a curious wrinkle: the impulse towards the development of genetic improvement is concentrated not in Western countries such as the US or the UK, where many modern technologies. No, genetic improvement is likely to begin with China.
Numerous polls among the population of Western countries has revealed significant opposition to many forms of human improvement. Americans, for example, don’t want to use the inclusion of chips in the brain to improve memory and most of these activities morally unacceptable. In Russia, according to our survey, it is not so radical: a for.
Designer babies
An extensive survey of public opinion revealed considerable opposition in countries such as Germany, the USA and the United Kingdom: in these countries people are against to select the best embryos for implantation based on non-medical grounds such as appearance or intelligence. Even less support people have a direct editing of genes to improve the qualities of the so-called “designer babies”.
Rejection of such improvements, especially genetic, is based on several pillars. First, of particular concern to security experts argue that editing the human genome carries significant risks. These risks can be taken in the treatment of diseases, but non-medical intervention in aspects such as intelligence and appearance. At the same time raises ethical objections. Scientists are beginning to consider as “playing God” and forged nature. There are also concerns about inequality, create a new generation of superior people who will be significantly dominant in relation to others. In the end, “brave new world” was a utopia.
However, these studies were affected in much of the Western attitude. In other countries these surveys have been much smaller. But there are hints that in Japan as opposite attitude to the improvement of man, as in the West. But in India and China look at it leniently, and even favourably. In China it may be associated with a generally positive attitude to old-fashioned programs like eugenics selective abortion of fetuses with severe genetic disorders. But to explain the attitude of the Chinese to this subject more deeply, more research is needed. That’s why Darryl Macer of the Eubios Ethics Institute believes that Asia is ahead of the rest in the field of human enhancement.
At the same time, the biggest obstacle to genetic improvement are generally accepted legislation prohibiting editing of genes. A recent study has shown that bans on genetic modification of the line of the fetus — that is, which is transmitted to descendants — effective throughout Europe, Canada and Australia. In China, India and other non-Western countries, however, restrictive measures are more weak — constraints, if they exist, are often in the form of guidelines and not laws.
USA may be the exception to this trend. In them there is no legal restriction on the editing of genes; however, Federal funding for the editing of genes in the line of fruits is prohibited. Because most geneticists rely on government grants for their research, in this country, such an approach can be overwhelming.
And on the contrary, Chinese government funding has led to the fact that the country was the first to edit the genes of human embryos using the CRISPR/Cas9 in 2015. China also occupies a leading role in the use of the same tool for genetic modifications of cells of human tissue in the treatment of cancer patients.
Thus, there are two main factors contributing to the emergence of technologies of genetic enhancement: research and development of such technologies and to support them in the community. Anyway, in this respect, the West is far behind China.
The political factor may also play a role. Western democracy in its structure, sensitive to public opinion. Elected politicians are less willing to Fund controversial projects and most of them banned. But in Asia, and indeed in non-Western countries — there is no such political systems are less sensitive to opinions of people and officials can coordinate with public and not public priorities. Here you can enable and support human enhancement. Yes, international norms can be opposed to genetic improvement, but in some areas China has shown its willingness to abandon international norms to meet their own interests.
In the end, aside from the ethical objections aside, the genetic improvement has the potential to significantly raise national benefits. Even a slight increase in the level of intelligence by using the edit genes can have a significant impact on the economic growth of the nation. Some genes may give athletes an advantage in intense international competitions. Other genes can influence the propensity for violence, gradually reducing the level of crime.
Of the many potential benefits of improvements can only speculate, but with the development of science and technology, all these arguments will gradually shift to the real. If further studies confirm the reliability of the tool to edit the genes to improve the qualities of a man, China could become a leader in the field of improving people.
In addition to fears to lose on all fronts, whether to worry about that genetic improvement in China will break the chain?
If the critics are right, the improvement of the people is unethical, dangerous and so forth, and then Yes, we should worry about China. From this point of view, the Chinese people will be exposed to unethical and dangerous intervention — this is a cause for international concern. Taking into account the violation of human rights in China and other countries, it is unlikely that international pressure will have a big effect. In turn, the improvement of the population of China will increase the country’s competitiveness on the world stage. The rest will have to either lose or join in the race.
Conversely, if the right those who believe that the development of person — cool and to this worthwhile endeavor, then there is no need for concern. While other countries will crease and break, China is firing on all cylinders to strive for excellence of its people. The country’s competitiveness and increase pressure on countries of the world arena will reduce the restrictions that lead to overall progress for all humanity, we will become a healthier, more productive and overall better.
Anyway, this trend is transformative and inevitable. Now China holds the beginning of that ball in his hands.
