The Importance of Returning to an Evaluation of the Tradition of Medicine in the Age of CRISPR-Cas9
Ashlyn Stackhouse, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Fellowship at Duke Divinity
On account of the first gene-edited human babies being born in 2018, germline human genetic engineering is no longer science fiction. Stunned by this reality, many Christians are deeply unsettled about the current uses and projected future of medicine involving the gene-editing tool of CRISPR-Cas9. While there are new challenges with CRISPR-Cas9, the bioethical debate involving the use of genetic technology in medical intervention is not novel. In Playing God?: Human Genetic Engineering and the Rationalization of Public Bioethical Debate, John H. Evans recognizes how a shift occurred from a fundamental and theological debate to more concern of biosafety in ethical discussions about recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s. The reduction of moral theology in bioethical debates involving genetic technology is still seen today as the debate around the use of CRISPR-Cas 9 is predominately around biosafety concerns.
The discussions involving gene editing in humans hold a future-oriented view. I propose that Christians look back in history to consider similar conversations to understand the evolution of this bioethical conversation in order to discuss how CRISPR-Cas9 can be evaluated within the integrity of the tradition of medicine. In this essay, I will evaluate the various responses from the Asilomar Conference, which was a gathering of scientists and other professionals in 1975 to discuss the use of recombinant DNA. There will be a focus on the concerns of theologians in light of this recombinant DNA debate. This review will outline how the bioethical focus shifted from theologically based conversation in the purpose of medicine into a biosafety discussion focused more on the idea of risks. I will analyze the theological and secular concerns surrounding the recombinant DNA debate and suggest how it can inform Christians in conversation about the current CRISPR-Cas9 discussions.
Analyzing the debates from the Asilomar Conference on the use of recombinant DNA technology can provide insight on how the theological conversation has been lost and is needed now in light of CRISPR-Cas9 realities and future projections. It is imperative to engage in theological thought in the bioethical debate of genetic technology in order to evaluate how CRISPR-Cas9 fits into the Christian tradition and practices of medicine.
The discussions involving gene editing in humans hold a future-oriented view. I propose that Christians look back in history to consider similar conversations to understand the evolution of this bioethical conversation in order to discuss how CRISPR-Cas9 can be evaluated within the integrity of the tradition of medicine. In this essay, I will evaluate the various responses from the Asilomar Conference, which was a gathering of scientists and other professionals in 1975 to discuss the use of recombinant DNA. There will be a focus on the concerns of theologians in light of this recombinant DNA debate. This review will outline how the bioethical focus shifted from theologically based conversation in the purpose of medicine into a biosafety discussion focused more on the idea of risks. I will analyze the theological and secular concerns surrounding the recombinant DNA debate and suggest how it can inform Christians in conversation about the current CRISPR-Cas9 discussions.
Analyzing the debates from the Asilomar Conference on the use of recombinant DNA technology can provide insight on how the theological conversation has been lost and is needed now in light of CRISPR-Cas9 realities and future projections. It is imperative to engage in theological thought in the bioethical debate of genetic technology in order to evaluate how CRISPR-Cas9 fits into the Christian tradition and practices of medicine.