In 2003, an almost 15-year long study with a whopping cost of $2.7 billion dollars, named the Human Genome Project, provided us with the genetic blueprint of a human being. In this study the human genome was studied, which is the overall set of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in our body. DNA is made of the iconic twisting, paired strands. Made of four chemical units, known as the nucleotide bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C). Located in pairs on opposite ends. Within the nucleus of our cells 23 pairs of chromosomes exist, encapsulating approximately 3 billion pairs of the paired strands. Working together, all of these pairs are the building pieces that determine us: how we look, how we act and how we feel.
Even though the meaning of every DNA pair or group of DNA pairs has not yet been discovered, a lot of information has already been acquired such as the genetic code of diseases like Alzheimer’s, Sickle Cell anemia, blindness, AIDS, muscular dystrophy etc. Moreover, we also already understand some genetic code that serves as building blocks in common physical attributes such as: eye colour, hair colour and even proneness to sweat!
Industry appearance and growth
Since the completion of the human genome project, the price of sequencing your own DNA has drastically fallen with current costs for a complete individual genomic picture falling under $1000 Dollars.
This drastic fall in price has given space to a whole new industry, with companies like MyHeritage, that provide test kits for a mere €49 euros to determine your biological heritage, sharing information on what areas of the world (such as Europe, Asia, North/South America, Africa, etc) your former ancestors were from. Even though the overall truth and effectiveness of these tests is still under scrutiny by many, it already portrays the start of a new industry emerging.
On a more serious note, there are also more practical applications were the screening and data compilation of the human genome has proven to provide a lot of value such as; carrier testing, for the chances of genetic diseases for offspring. Prenatal testing, to find out genetic or chromosomal disorders. Forensic testing, for crime scenes, predictive testing, to detect future disposition to diseases such as Alzheimer’s. And lastly, preimplantation testing for in-vitro fertilization, to test the genetic code of fertilized eggs.
Cost per genome data – 2020
The value of the human genome, and uncovering its many secrets exponentially rose when in 2012, a breakthrough led by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier Showed how an enzyme called CAS-9 could be used to cut, edit or add genomic data into our DNA.
This discovery was made by researching the antivirus defence in bacteria, whom, when attacked by a virus, would create a defence mechanism building the DNA of the virus into its own genome. With this, scientists were able to learn how genome patterns work as well and what they mean, these patterns are also known as “Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”, also known as CRISPR.
Sequencing enough genomes and doing enough tests in order to figure out the exact use of fragments of genetic code is very data heavy. As mentioned before, each human being is composed of about 3 billion pairs of genomic material. Nevertheless, with recent advancements in big data computing and AI, deciphering and altering the code of life has never been this close. Because of this, the genetic testing market has been growing exponentially with a CAGR of 11,5% annually. Many countries are actively investing in this new technology, with places such as the UK aiming to fully sequence the genome of 5 million Britons, the US aiming to sequence over 1 million US citizens and China being most aggressive, aiming to sequence 50% of new-Borns by 2020.
Innovative disruption
The cost of editing and studying the human genome has drastically fallen. This has opened up the scene to biohackers, a group of people, without medical qualifications (in most cases) that decide to take CRISPR advancements into their own hands. As can be seen in the Netflix documentary series Unnatural Selection, people can buy human genome editing toolkits from $60 to about $1000 (Available in the US but illegal in the Netherlands) where they tinker with the human genome and in extreme cases auto experiment with themselves such as the case with Tristan Roberts, an HIV-positive man who self-injects himself with an experimental gene therapy that is yet unproven in its efficiency. Or Josiah Zayner, a famous biohacker infamously known for injecting himself with self-enhancing gene therapy in a convention with the aim of increasing his strength.
CRISPR Cas9 genetic engineering kit – $150
The emergence of these biohackers both bring positive effects to disruptions, such as the emergence of crowd-sourced study groups to bring much-needed biomedical advances at a low cost (e.g. cheaper alternatives to penicillin). Yet, simultaneously, playing with the genetic code of humans and animals under no ethical standards and supervision can cause irreparable damage and discredit the industry and bring official studies to a slowdown with stronger regulations.
Human DNA alteration, the emergence of Designer babies
CRISPR has proven potential to remove heritable diseases from the human genome by making selective cuts in fertilized eggs. With the growing efficiency of in-vitro fertilization procedures, pre-implantation genetic testing becomes more and more feasible. Through these tests, we will be able to deduce a lot of characteristics about the genetics of the person. As portrayed in the Netflix documentary of human nature, making selective cuts, additions and changes into the genomic code could mean the disappearance of genetic conditions and diseases such as sickle cell disease, Crohn’s Disease, Down Syndrome, Alzheimer’s, AIDS etc.
This might seem far away, yet an infamous experiment by a groups of Chinese scientists in Shenzhen in 2018, who implanted gene-edited embryos that were made to be resistant to AIDS, shows that these applications are right at our doorstep. The woman implanted gave birth to twins who were resistant to AIDS, yet the scientist team was given a 2-year prison sentence and a 1 million yuan fine. This unethical experiment shook the scientific community to its core and strengthened the international rulings on CRISPR altered human embryo gene-alteration experimentation.
The removal of diseases is not the only thing scientists and companies are interested in. With increased knowledge on the function of different genes, we are approaching a reality where gene-editing in babies for desired physical and mental attributes becomes more and more of a possibility. Indeed, a close connection to the 1997 classic sci-fi noir film, Gattaca, where humans were able to define every single aspect of their child, creating new bridges between the wealthy and the poor, where money was not only the only difference between the classes. Currently, (without the use of CRISPR) by using human genome identification in embryos, a fertility clinic in California, USA, allows parents to choose the eye and hair colour of their child by comparing different fertilized embryos.
More complex attributes such as strength, intelligence and creativity are not decoded, due to different sets of genes having part in this and the effect of epigenetics (genes turning or off due to environmental effects over time). Nevertheless, fast and impactful advances in AI and large databases with human genome data will provide us with deeper insight on the building our building blocks and what exact changes to make to achieve our desired results. This will open a world of possibilities in the alteration of the human genome for the years to come, yet many have posed the question to what extent it is up to us to have control in this. Would it be ethical to genetically engineer our offspring? Should these changes be made to future generations as well? How would pricing for such a disruptive innovation work?
There is also a movement for a moratorium (worldwide prohibition or freeze) on clinically using germline editing technology on humans. Considering its large benefits, it is hard to assess whether this technology will bring more good than bad. With fears of it only being available to the rich or of it negatively impacting the genetic code of the human race down the line. Nevertheless, global competition and lack of trust make this a not very likely scenario.
What is your opinion? Should genetic changes be passed down generations? Should all diseases be removed? Would you change your own genetic code if it were a possibility? What would you change?
References:
https://www.labiotech.eu/crispr/crispr-technology-cure-disease/
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/basics/dna/
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/testing/uses/
https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-wiredrelease/5c6893c18d5c79e1d8aaf5e13a7dc86c
https://www.the-odin.com/diy-crispr-kit/
https://nerdist.com/article/20-year-anniversary-gattaca-genetics/
