Genome Therapy
It should be noted,as has been discussed elsewhere on this website, mankind has been designed in the image of God. As such he has the ability to design/develop and "create" in some fashion in a like manner to God. Mankind does not create "de novo" or out of nothing as God did in Genesis 1, but he does have the ability to utilize God's physical creation and manipulate it into new physical designs and structures. This is called technology. It does not make mankind a "god" but helps to understand some of the tremendous technical developments that man has developed in the bio-medical realm. Sadly, many very talented men have often forged ahead without adequate acknowledgment or even acceptance of the basic characteristic of man's being spirit/soul/body called the sin nature. This is now coming to a head in the area of gene manipulation of the human embryo.
Editing Humanity: The Ships are Burning
August 1st, 2017 by Dr. Dennis Sullivan
In an article by Dr Dennis Sullivan online he summaries the rapid advances in gene identification and insertion techniques in embryos:
These are summarized as the following:
CRISPAR 5/2016-insert genes in embryos China moratorium against gene experimentation in embryos 12/2016 gene insertion continues UK early 2017 gene insertion continues US Oregon Health Sciences 7/2017
He then Summarizes:
“Here are a few of the many reasons why this is an ethically worrisome trend:
1. Experimenting on human embryos violates the sanctity of human life, period.
2. There is a ban in the U.S. on implanting CRISPR-edited embryos, but the temptation to implant and gestate them will be irresistible. This will first be done in other countries, debated and “cautiously” permitted here, and then the floodgates will open.
3. The goal is the cure of genetic diseases, but the results are completely unpredictable with our present level of knowledge. Germ line therapies alter the entire genome of an afflicted individual, including reproductive cells. These changes will affect not only that person, but all subsequent generations.
4. All this won’t stop with the cure of diseases, as the new technology will quickly give rise to attempts at true enhancement: the altering (for better or worse) of human nature itself, possibly violating the image of God within each of us.
5. Informed consent, of course, is a major concern, since there is no way to get consent from future generations for the risks they will incur.”
http://www.bioethikos.org/
August 1st, 2017 by Dr. Dennis Sullivan
In an article by Dr Dennis Sullivan online he summaries the rapid advances in gene identification and insertion techniques in embryos:
These are summarized as the following:
CRISPAR 5/2016-insert genes in embryos China moratorium against gene experimentation in embryos 12/2016 gene insertion continues UK early 2017 gene insertion continues US Oregon Health Sciences 7/2017
He then Summarizes:
“Here are a few of the many reasons why this is an ethically worrisome trend:
1. Experimenting on human embryos violates the sanctity of human life, period.
2. There is a ban in the U.S. on implanting CRISPR-edited embryos, but the temptation to implant and gestate them will be irresistible. This will first be done in other countries, debated and “cautiously” permitted here, and then the floodgates will open.
3. The goal is the cure of genetic diseases, but the results are completely unpredictable with our present level of knowledge. Germ line therapies alter the entire genome of an afflicted individual, including reproductive cells. These changes will affect not only that person, but all subsequent generations.
4. All this won’t stop with the cure of diseases, as the new technology will quickly give rise to attempts at true enhancement: the altering (for better or worse) of human nature itself, possibly violating the image of God within each of us.
5. Informed consent, of course, is a major concern, since there is no way to get consent from future generations for the risks they will incur.”
http://www.bioethikos.org/