YORKTON - The idea of gene-editing tends to be which also engenders rather deep emotions for many.
It is of course understandable that the technology is one that some fear, while others see it as a way to overcome many current problems.
In the negative side of the equation is the obvious ‘what if?’ questions which arise. What if the edited gene influences the organism in an unseen way creating something that might be thought of a ‘Frankenstein’ creation?
Of course we do need to remember Frankenstein’s monster wasn’t so much evil as misunderstood and pushed into a corner where he rebelled.
And, in the scheme of things genetic change is constant in nature and influenced by man in ways far from gene-editing tech. One needs only to look at the extreme diversity withing dog breeds to see what man controlling breeding over many generations has changed the animal in divergent ways.
Still when one looks at a technology such as gene-editing it must be undertaken with a heightened level of caution – checks and balances being critical.
But, there is the other side of the ledger of what might be achieved through such technology.
For example a recent article at www.producer.com noted that “according to new research from genetic development company PIC (Pig Improvement Company), which is using gene editing technology to develop a pig resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).”
That is significant given the same article details, “North America’s pork producers have been dealing with PRRS since the late 1980s. The viral disease causes respiratory issues in all ages of pigs. In breeding animals, though, it can derail reproductive performance.”
Developing a way for pigs to have a resistance to PRRS is a huge step in terms of herd health, production, and ultimately the bottom line.
It is in some ways just a step in a process away from vaccines, albeit one which the consumer public must become accustomed and accepting of.
Then of course comes what is always the ‘elephant in the room’ in such cases – what might come next.
If you can positively gene-edit to protect swine from PRRS, what else might you tweak genes to protect the species, or have it perform better, etc?
And, of course if it works on swine, how could the technology be adapted to other farm species – or yes even to human beings?
Therein lies both the greatest fear and maybe it’s greatest promise, if human kind were to dare go down that road.
In the end of course the technology is neither good, nor bad, it just exists.
It will be how it is adapted and utilized which ultimately is judged as good, or bad.
