Gene editing promises hope, presents dangers

We now have a new threat, in addition to nuclear war and climate change, that has the potential to devastate civilization. I refer to gene editing techniques, especially CRISPR-Cas9, which can now gene edit any living organism. The benefits of this technology can be great, curing genetic diseases in man and improving crop and animal production. There is also potential for such editing to go wrong or be hijacked by rogue individuals or states. While climate change is slow, change by CRISPR could be slow or rapid, such as use in biological warfare.

There is now an excellent book that explains the brilliant science in making CRISPR-Cas9 able to edit the genes of any living organism, but it also explains the possibility of rogue use of it with devastating harm to humankind. It also discusses the ethical and religious problems involved with its use in humans.

The book is entitled A Crack in Creation Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution, by Jennifer A. Doudna and Samuel H. Sternberg. Dr. Doudna, with colleagues and collaborators, has led the way in making gene-editing with CRISPR a reality, and is surely on the short list for a Nobel prize in physiology and medicine. She may also be on the short list for a Nobel Peace Prize due to her efforts to promote public understanding of CRISPR and the need for input from a broad range of society regarding its use.

This excellent book reads almost like a fast-moving novel. The genius of the research by Dr. Doudna and colleagues, coupled with the obvious humanity expressed, made this a book I couldn’t put down. Any high school biology student should follow it easily.

I have written before that I thought we could overcome the harmful effects of climate change by use of technology. Gene editing may help in this, speeding up the progress already being made by geneticists and plant and animal breeders in disease and insect control, and in utilizing the increased carbon dioxide levels to increase photosynthesis in plants, thus yields.

I still believe nuclear warfare is the greatest threat we face, and I am fearful that diplomacy may not avoid the unthinkable calamity that such warfare would entail, with the survival of humankind in question. It won’t affect me much but I want my children and grandchildren and others to enjoy the human interactions that make life so precious. GEORGE A. BRADLEY Springdale