A Modest Proposal

There is a trite scene that awaits those who travel through these school hallways; it is replete with students who physically and emotionally abuse one another, and the air is filled with the sound of hurtful words ridden with scorn and sometimes shouting can be heard resulting from a physical skirmish here or there. For those victims who make it past graduation without succumbing to damnation first, they enter a life of psychological trauma that is almost irreversible at least not without extensive and expensive treatment. As for the abusers? They will most likely go on abusing anyone they please; this could take the form of the harassment of coworkers, or perhaps the physical and emotional abuse of a significant other and their future child.

            

My intention is to benefit the lives of everyone who is bullied for being different: it’s not just confined to little Jimmy in biology who is a little quirky, but instead it extends to everyone spanning from across the globe composed of varying races and cultures who experiences prejudice.

            

I have been assured by scientists that the field of genetic engineering has a simple solution to this problem that could be available within only a few decades; therefore, I offer it to the public to take into consideration genetically engineered babies. I have been told that it’s a rather elementary process, almost primitive if I should be so bold to add: just deleting a DNA sequence here and adding a new one there, so why stop at designer dog breeds when the possibility of designer children exists?

            

By changing the look of people before they are even born, scientists can guarantee that everyone looks identical, and if everyone looks the same, then no one would be bullied for being different. Obviously people can be different in other ways besides appearance, but soon enough genetic engineers will be able to manipulate traits such as athleticism, artistic capabilities, and intellectual prowess, so everyone will be alike in every respect. No one shall ever again be bullied for being too smart or too dull, too tall or too short, too feeble or too feeble-minded.

            

I realize that this technology will not be available to everyone as a result of financial insecurity, but not to worry: only about 30% of the world population is below the poverty line which means that only 2,100,000,000 people will not have access to designer babies. As for the rest of the 4,900,000,000 humans who will produce genetically engineered children, according to my calculations in as little as seven generations they will breed out any of the non-desirable traits from the gene pool by reproducing with non-designer humans and passing on designer traits to those offspring via their genetically modified DNA.

            

I hope my proposal will not be liable to the least objection, but I do not favor my own opinion so much that I would reject any offer proposed by wise persons, which are found to be equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual, but since something of that kind has not been advanced in contradiction to my scheme, which, as it is wholly new, so it has something solid and real, of no expense and little trouble, let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of raising awareness to the general public of what atrocities are being committed against their children: Of creating better organizational support as a means for students and employees to seek refuge or report abuse. Lastly, of normalizing diversity so that instead of feeling hatred towards anything that is different, it becomes just a normal part of everyday life.

            

I announce, with deepest sincerity, that I have no personal gains to be made by promoting this motion. As I have said before, this technology will not be available for decades; in which time I will be far beyond my child bearing years, so I would not be able to produce any genetically engineered children. 

Gene Network Associated with Alcoholism

This article states that scientists at the University of Texas have identified a network of genes that work together in determining alcohol dependence. These findings could lead to future treatments for alcoholics and allow doctors to screen for alcoholism.

Even though genetics play a role in alcoholism and addiction, the tendency for dependence to be genetically linked is more complicated than the presence or absence of any one gene. However, this study is the first time that scientists were able to use RNA sequencing to identify a specific group of genes that, expressed together, are highly correlated with alcohol dependence.

The identification of genetic factors and networks in the brains of alcoholics gives drug researchers more information to work from and may one day allow for better screenings to evaluate a person's risk for alcohol dependence, even before the onset of heavy drinking.

Possible New Treatment for HIV/AIDS

An article published on November 7, 2014 states that scientists at Harvard Stem Cell Institute have used a gene editing method to create what could be an effective technique for blocking HIV from invading and destroying patients' immune systems.

HIV enters T cells through the gene receptor CCR5, and once it is inside the T cell, HIV replicates and kills off the host cells, leaving patients at the risk of infection.

Using the CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology, the scientists removed the CCR5 receptor from blood stem cells that could produce blood cells that did not have CCR5.

In theory, gene edited stem cells could be introduced into HIV patients through a bone marrow transplant to make immune systems HIV-resistant, and the researchers believe this new approach to HIV therapy might be ready for human safety trials in less than five years.

However, even if this new approach works perfectly, it will require additional developments to be applicable in the areas of the world that have been the hardest hit by the epidemic.

For instance, 26% of the adult population in Swaziland is affected by AIDS. Swaziland has been marred by political and civil unrest. As a result health services are poorly equipped, so even if this new technology is commercialized it is unlikely that it will be available in the countries that need it the most.