The question is a difficult one. There are many differing opinions and opposing viewpoints…but who has the right answer? Is there even a right answer?
What is the question? Allow me to explain. Steve Connor, a science editor for The
Independent, recently penned an article about how scientists have developed a technique to genetically modify monkeys so that future monkeys would retain the same genetic modification. The premise being: if they can cure certain genetic diseases in monkeys, then scientists will be able to use the same or similar treatments to cure the same diseases in humans. If this is possible, the scientists mentioned in the article believe they may be able to cure inherited (genetic) diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, MS and more.
In a study published in the journal Nature, a team of scientists led by Erika Sasaki of the Central Institute of Experimental Animals in Kawasaki used Marmoset monkeys to perform their tests, mainly because humans and other primates are genetically similar.
The researchers introduced a jellyfish gene into the monkey’s embryos. Why a jellyfish gene?
The purpose of the experiment was not to “cure” anything. It was simply to see if they could pass on new genes to the monkey’s offspring. In other words, they wanted to see if they could change the genetic code for not only that monkey, but for all of that monkey’s descendents.
The jellyfish gene was used because it makes the Monkey’s Hands Glow Green Under Fluorescent Light! This made it easy for the scientists to know if they succeeded since all they had to do was shine a fluorescent light on the monkey’s hands.
Previously, scientists performed similar work and created a “transgenic” monkey with jellyfish genes in 2001. The monkey’s name was Andi. They encountered a problem: even though Andi’s hands glowed green under fluorescent light, her offspring’s hands did not. This meant that any genetic diseases the scientists were trying to alter with this technique would not be changed for future generations.
But this experiment proved different. Not only did the monkey’s hands glow, so did its offspring’s. The genetic trait scientists had inserted into one monkey was passed on to future generations.
Why is this so important? It’s important to the scientists because they can encode monkeys with human genes that cause diseases (such as Parkinson’s) that can be used for testing in hopes of finding a cure for humans with the same diseases. On one hand, isn’t modern science amazing? Who would have thought 25 years ago that scientists would be creating genetically altered monkeys with the hopes of curing “incurable” diseases?
On The Other Hand, Is The Big Question: What are the repercussions of all of this? Is it ethical or cruel to create colonies of genetically altered monkeys with terrible diseases strictly for testing experimental treatments? What are the long-term effects of permanently altering genes that are passed down from generation to generation to generation? Could the “cure” end up worse than the disease? This type of genetic tampering could easily positively or negatively affect the entire human race.
At this point, these are questions no one has answers to. It is very clear from the comments left on the Internet after Steve Connor wrote the article that there are strong opinions on both sides of this issue. One hopes we as a species choose the right path.