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What's the agenda behind the spate of gene editing alarmism lately? The article cites the July Nature Biotechnology article about unintended consequences of CR
by laretluval 8y ago
What's the agenda behind the spate of gene editing alarmism lately?
The article cites the July Nature Biotechnology article about unintended consequences of CRISPR-Cas9 but subsequent work has eliminated many such consequences using slightly different techniques. No word of that fact in this article.
If consequences of genetic engineering are poorly understood, then this isn't reason to worry about reckless research. It's reason to rapidly accelerate the research, and remove as many barriers as possible, so that we can reach understanding and controllability quickly, while obviously taking precautions before products of such engineering are widely available.
The fact is that the majority of this work is happening in China, where no one cares what the moral mavens of the WSJ and the NYT think. I don't understand why such sources continually call for barriers to be put in the way of genetic engineering research.
- trophycase 8y agoI definitely don't want barriers on research. Rather, the issue is that this technology is being used by overzealous profiteers who likely care very little about potential consequences. Alarmism is warranted IMO when corporations that have proven to be sociopathic are using this technology and potentially affecting near every in the country (and maybe the planet). Haven't we learned anything from global warming?
- trevyn 8y agoThe media has incentive to report controversy. Certain other nations have incentive and experience with sowing controversy and conflict. There’s probably more incentive structures involved, but those two + a small native group of alarmists seem sufficient to support current levels of perceived alarmism.
- AlexCoventry 8y agoI agree, it's awesome that we can now do targeted forward genetics on mammals. Weird phenotypes in mutants are a classic path to biological insight.
- Nasrudith 8y agoThe most cynical answer assuming an actual agenda is 'vested interests' who fear that they won't be able to compete. however not all apparent agendas come from interests - at times they are essentially memes run amok. There isn't a rational interest behind anti-vaccination efforts yet they are sadly growing.