The Commited MAY 2015 | Page 91

TED ELAZIĞ COLLEGE / 8-B Genome Editing Deniz ALINAK Within the last 66 years, DNA was discovered, and we learned how it works. People have developed machines that can sequence it. Scientists have been able to develop some tools and methods that can change it. Moreover, they are even trying to design unborn babies who are much smarter, stronger, and more good-looking. In 1980, scientists opened this door, but it needed some improvement. After the first trials failed in 1990 -for the first timedoctors managed to treat a rare gene disease. The method was experimental, yet they tried to work on multiple genes so that in the future the genetically modified babies would not suffer from diseases relating to heart, blood pressure, and the brain. Then scientists started another research. They said “If we can edit genes, why do we only have to use it for treatment? Why don’t we edit the genes to produce new societies with better citizens?” In 2004, they took one step further. They did an experiment with two rats. One of them was normal and the other one was genetically modified. The scientists named it “The Marathon Rat”. The normal rat was able to run 200 meters in 10 minutes then it stopped, but the other one ran for 5 straight hours at the same speed, had a timeout, and then started to run again for another 5 hours. In conclusion, if we had the chance to apply this to our children, then we would be able to produce societies which had stronger people who could run faster and jump higher. We can create engineers, doctors, composers, and artists. We can also create workers and builders. In other words, by doing this, societies will be healthier, smarter and safer.