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Gene editing of hamsters goes wrong - Printable Version

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Gene editing of hamsters goes wrong - Catherine - 05-28-2022

Scientists using CRISPR technology attempted to edit Syrian hamster DNA. They were trying to produce more socially cooperative hamsters. Instead the hamsters were super aggressive towards each other. It is the opposite of the result they wanted.

https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/27/gene-editing-turns-fluffy-hamsters-into-aggressive-rage-monsters-16721041/

Clearly gene modification is not just controversial, it is also not so simple to get right. They didn't just fail in their experiment. They produced the opposite results.
This does call into question the ethics of some gene editing. They have created some very unhappy hamsters. They are not going to be able to fix  what they have done. Is it right to alter animals in this way? Even if they had been successful, what would have been the point.

It is one thing to be using the CRISPR technology to try and fix a genetic medical problem. That has a good intention and hopefully good results.
Randomly altering hamsters to see if they can make certain changes in them, does not meet any level of medically beneficial research.
I think we need to have some established criteria before the CRISPR technology is used. 

Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should do something.


RE: Gene editing of hamsters goes wrong - LPC - 05-28-2022

(05-28-2022, 03:45 PM)Catherine Wrote: I think we need to have some established criteria before the CRISPR technology is used. 

Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should do something.
So true! I suspect that the ultimate aim might be eventually to alter human character - a truly risky project. Imagine if all human beings were genetically altered and it went wrong and they became even more aggressive than they are now.


RE: Gene editing of hamsters goes wrong - Catherine - 05-29-2022

Quote:So true! I suspect that the ultimate aim might be eventually to alter human character - a truly risky project. Imagine if all human beings were genetically altered and it went wrong and they became even more aggressive than they are now.
I think you are right. There would be big money in producing designer babies. People would place an order and then get the baby they want.
I think we know how well that would turn out. It is the stuff of science fiction/horror stories. They couldn't even get a hamster right.

The CRISPR technology has the potential to do great good. If they could refine it, they could repair damaged chromosomes. Children who are dying because of damaged genetic material could be fixed. It might have potential to help with some autoimmune diseases. It would need to be done very carefully making only the slightest of corrections. What they did with the hamsters was not well thought out. If they made humans more aggressive I think we wouldn't survive and neither would most of the planet.