A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution

In Chapter 5, Doudna and Sternberg explore how CRISPR technology is revolutionizing genetic modification of plants and animals, examining both its promising applications and potential risks. The authors illustrate that while this technology offers solutions to pressing agricultural, medical, and environmental challenges, it also raises significant ethical questions about humans’ relationship with nature.

The chapter opens by highlighting existing CRISPR applications in agriculture. The authors explain how scientists have used gene editing to create crops with enhanced traits, such as fungus-resistant wheat and longer-lasting tomatoes. They detail a significant breakthrough in barley genetics, describing how researchers identified and replicated a natural mutation that provides resistance to powdery mildew disease. This example demonstrates CRISPR’s advantage over traditional breeding methods: it allows scientists to make precise genetic changes without introducing unwanted mutations.

Doudna and Sternberg address the contentious relationship between gene-edited organisms and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). They note that while GMOs have faced significant public opposition despite scientific consensus supporting their safety, gene-edited organisms might be viewed differently because they don’t introduce foreign DNA. The authors explain that the US Department of Agriculture has begun allowing some gene-edited crops to bypass traditional

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