The world as we know it is changing in ways ordinary people like you and me can only imagine. Our minds are so limited that we would never be able to comprehend what’s going on behind those cemented sound proof walls of physics or biology laboratories, where the world’s most advanced technology is available to the most ingenious people of Earth. A large proportion of these people are “Masked Heroes” as they don’t get the recognition and fame that they should. The motive and aim of these scientists is very stark: to make the world a better place for the sake of humanity.

Out of the innumerable fields of science, genetic engineering has taken a lot of advancement in the recent years. Genetic engineering is a powerful asset that has the potential to revolutionize many fields, including medicine, agriculture, and industry. Genetic engineering can be used to develop new treatments and cures for diseases. It can also be used to create vaccines that are more effective and have fewer side effects. Moreover, seeds that produce crops that are pest and disease resistant, are able to grow in harsher conditions(less water availability) and have a higher yield are now convenient to find, causing hunger and environmental related problems to be terminated. On an industrial point of view, biodegradable plastics and enzymes that can be used to break down land pollutants can be manufactured. This would set a seal on The pollution problem, a hurdle encountered by humanity since the mere existence of humanity itself.

Genetic Engineering and Medicine

Genetic engineering is opening up new frontiers in the field of medicine. One of the most promising areas of genetic engineering in medicine is gene therapy. Gene therapy is a type of treatment that involves delivering corrected genes to a patient’s cells. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as viral vectors, nanoparticles, or liposomes. The vector is a vehicle that is used to deliver the corrected gene to the patient’s cells. Out of these three vectors, viral vectors are most commonly used because they are very efficient in delivering genes to a variety of cells. Viral vectors are viruses that have been modified to deliver genes to cells. The vector is developed and copies are made. It is then delivered to the patient via injective or inspiration. This treatment is being used to treat diseases such as sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, leukemia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Liposomes are small, spherical vesicles that are made up of a phospholipid bilayer. They are produced artificially. They can be used to deliver a variety of molecules to cells, including genes, drugs and proteins. Liposomes are considered safe and well-tolerated, but nonetheless they aren’t as efficient vectors as viral vectors are. Liposomes are currently being used in cancer treatments. Nanoparticles are minute particles that are typically less than 100nm in diameter. They can be made from a variety of materials, including metals, polymers and ceramics. They are comparatively more efficient at delivering genes than liposomes, but they are still under development. Research is currently being conducted to assess their safety and efficiency. They are being used to develop new imaging techniques and diagnostic tests.

Through advancement in genetics, vaccines are also being produced. One approach is to use a viral vector. The virus is genetically modified by adding the gene required to produce the necessary antigen. The virus is harmless but is able to infect the cells and deliver the required gene. Moreover, DNA vaccines are also being used in which the gene of the required antigen is directly delivered to the patient’s cells. The DNA is delivered using a liposome. New types of vaccines, such as mRNA vaccines and subunit vaccines are also being produced. mRNA vaccines deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) to the patient's cells. The mRNA is then translated into the desired antigen. Subunit vaccines deliver a specific protein from the pathogen to the patient's cells. This protein is then recognized by the immune system and triggers an immune response.

Genetically engineered vaccines have been developed for the recent pandemic disease; Covid-19. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are both mRNA vaccines. A DNA vaccine for Zika virus, a disease abundant in animals, is currently in clinical trials. This vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in preventing Zika infection in animals. A number of HIV vaccines are currently in clinical trials. Some of these vaccines are genetically engineered to deliver the genes for HIV antigens to the patient’s cells. These vaccines are much more efficient to produce than traditionally produced vaccines. They are much more effective to produce a primary or secondary immune responses and cost-efficient to produce, as compared to traditional vaccines.

Regardless of these cunning advantages that we quite obviously can’t ignore, there are consequences that could have drastic effects on humanity in general. There are numerous concerns about the use of genetic engineering in medicine. For instance, genetic engineering is a complex process; it’s not possible to predict precise and accurate outcomes of altering an organism’s DNA. As a matter of fact, it’s not even possible to predict all the potent outcomes and side effects. There is always an uncertainty that can’t be neglected. For instance, gene therapy has the potential to cause cancer or serious side effects. Some gene therapy trials have been altered due to drastic side effects such as leukemia and liver cancer. Gene therapy could be used to alter the genetic makeup in ways that they do not consent to. Using viral vectors has potential risks such as immunogenicity; the body’s immune system attacking the virus and insertional mutagenesis; the virus inserting itself into the wrong locus (position) in the genome.

The most common and in some way “popular” concerns are ethical ones, that are usually religiously linked. Some people believe that it is wrong to modify human DNA, as it is disrespectful to human life. Religious schools believe that by implementing genetic engineering, we humans are playing God’s role and that the result of this would be the elevated and inevitable degree of ruthlessness of humans. It is also believed that the use of gene therapy; creating designer babies or enhancing human abilities is also disrespectful and totally nullifies the concept of natural selection and survival of the fittest. Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela once stated,” Genetic engineering is a powerful tool, but it must be used with caution. We need to make sure we are not playing God.” Stephen Hawking, a prominent figure in the world of research and writing emphasized that genetic engineering is a slippery slope. Once we start modifying human DNA, it’ll be difficult to stop.

Another pressing concern is that genetic engineering could also be used to create a deadly “biological weapon”, by creating new diseases or enhancing preexisting ones by increasing antibiotic resistance or introducing an antigen that doesn’t get recognized by the human immune system. Some people even conspired that the Covid-19 virus that caused mass destruction in 2020-2021 was actually a bioweapon created for personal gain, although majority of the population believes these claims to be fabricated. Dr. Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet medical journal said,” There is a risk that genetic engineering could be used to create new diseases or enhance existing diseases.” Moreover, Dr. Gerald Epstein, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Pennsylvania stated,” Genetic engineering could be used to create biological weapons that are more powerful and deadly than anything we have ever seen before.”

Genetic engineering is a powerful and valuable asset with the power to cause a medical version of “industrial revolution”, but it is simultaneously important to use it under the line of ethics and with responsibility. The potential risks and benefits of genetic engineering should be put under great consideration before conducting trials on humans. There should be a public dialogue about the ethical implications of genetic engineering before any decisions are made regarding the use of it in any perspective. Consequently, the decision of whether or not genetic engineering and medicine should be intertwined and taken into account together should be made by considering both the potential pros and cons.