Posted on 11/23/2019 5:42:30 PM PST by marshmallow
A Christian doctor and theologian says Christians are too quick to accuse the scientific community of playing God as a medical journal announces gene editing in the womb could become a reality in the next two years.
Analysis published in the medical ethics journal Bioethics has claimed the risks involved in gene modification are now low enough to warrant its use with human embryos.
Writing in the journal, Dr Kevin Smith says an "ethically-sound attempt" could be less than two years away.
Researchers from Abertay University in Dundee said research in this area would offer hope to parents at risk of transmitting serious genetic disease to their future children.
Recent studies show that genetic modification is the only way to deal with multiple disease-associated genes within an embryo.
Dr Trevor Stammers from the Christian Medical Fellowship told Premier the medical development isn't as extreme as some might think.
"Changing genes in people who carry diseases is one thing," Stammers said.
"Designer babies, which conjures up being able to choose children who are good at the violin and are going to win the Olympics is a totally different matter which is light-years away."
When asked whether he viewed the practice as unethical, Stammers urged Christians not to use the expression "playing God" too flippantly.
"I think the phrase has been used wrongly by Christians to condemn every medical advance.
"We need to be very careful about misusing biblical verses to pre-empt things that we just feel uncomfortable about," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at premier.org.uk ...
“Changing genes in people who carry diseases is one thing”
Did God REALLY SAY......????
Psalm 139:13-18 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
So a doctor has an opinion about his line of work.
He’s in no place to demand the rest of us agree with him.
KHAN: Captain, although your abilities intrigue me, you are quite honestly inferior. Mentally, physically. In fact, I am surprised how little improvement there has been in human evolution. Oh, there has been technical advancement, but, how little man himself has changed. Yes, it appears we will do well in your century, Captain. Do you have any other questions? KIRK: Thank you. They've all been answered.
Medical science that has come out of Christian Western Civilization is one of mankind’s greatest acheivements and a great blessing from God.
These children in the womb are currently targets for the abortioners.
Think how this destroys their argument for killing the babies with such congenital problems.
God is obsolete. Science can handle it now. Look at what Science has done for Global Warming.
Warned?
No doubt these are the people who never eat GMO food, but are willing to have GMO children?
They claim to be ethical, but they reject ethical.objections.
If they get to decide for themselves what is “ethical” then they really should stop calling it that.
The ability to correct a gene defect that is discovered in utero, and thus save that child from a severe genetic disease that would limit the child's quality and length of life, is justified, and is really not any different than gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.
The problem with all gene correction, and gene therapy, is that it is very difficult in a fully developed child or adult, with billions of cells, to target and efficiency alter the DNA of those cells that are involve in the disease process (e.g. muscle cells in muscular dystrophy). The hope is that if detected in utero, enough cells could be targeted such that as the child develops and grows (e.g. making more cells) the new cells will contain the corrected gene. That's a simplistic way of putting it, but it is valid.
Gene editing has become relatively simple to do, but the specificity of gene editing is not as precise as some would have you believe. Gene editing is predicated on the idea that if you make targeting constructs (using CRISPR-Cas9, or ZFPs, or TALENS) that target a specific gene, they will ‘home’ there and specifically alter that gene. The reality is that none of these molecules are the equivalent of a GPS or terrain-guided missile.
In a cell, these constructs don't ‘go to a specific address’. They have a binding affinity and binding energy predicated on their affinity for the target. They ‘bounce around’ in the cell nucleus contacting the enormous expanse of cellular DNA randomly. They find their target only by the favorable binding energy. That said, if there are enough of these constructs in the cell, some will bind to the proper targeted site, but once that site is occupied the remaining molecules will have a propensity to bind to the ‘next best’ sites with regards binding energy.
The point is, that like medications, there is the possibility of off target effects. That's just one, very real, considerations.
I feel that the Church, with its history of persecuting people who embraced science the Church disagreed with, is now trying to atone for its previous mistakes. However, in so doing, it is making another huge mistake.
See also "Master Race."
No need to wait.
Now a kid with the ‘incorrect’ gender is in danger with being mutilated for life by an evil ‘surgeon’ and his/her minions!
He does not sound like a "Christian Doctor and Theologian" to me. He sounds like a liar.
Man goes to God and says, “We don’t need you anymore, we can create life on our own now, just with dirt.”
God says, “Ok, show me.”
Man picks up some dirt, when God interrupts him, “No, go make your own dirt, first!”
That’s aside from the millions terminated now for being the wrong gender. Mostly girls. But feminists value “reproductive freedom” to kill their kids over millions of girls never being able to live.
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