One
paragraph stood out to me because it points toward the another risk—one that
gets closer to the heart of the sheer foolishness of humankind in thinking we
can somehow improve or ‘fix’ God’s incredibly complex and intricate formation
of human life—the risk of unintentional inheritable consequences for
generations.
“The intelligence assessment drew specific attention to the possibility of using CRISPR to edit the DNA of human embryos to produce genetic changes in the next generation of people—for example, to remove disease risks. It noted that fast advances in genome editing in 2015 compelled “groups of high-profile U.S. and European biologists to question unregulated editing of the human germ line (cells that are relevant for reproduction), which might create inheritable genetic changes.””
A number of
years ago, PPL wrote a position paper on stem cell research. The paper deals with
the immorality of the creation of human embryos for research or for treatment
of disease in a process that ultimately destroys one human life to help another.
Here is an excerpt from PPL’s position paper that is applicable.
[T]he life that is being destroyed may appear, to our examination, to be just a collection of cells. But it is no ordinary group of cells. At the time of fertilization, when the 23 chromosomes of the sperm merge with the 23 chromosomes of the egg, a new human life comes into existence as a single, 46-chromosome cell called a "zygote." The zygote is just one cell, but already the genetic characteristics of that future human adult -- gender, blood type, hair and eye color, and all other genetic characteristics -- have been determined.Even more remarkable, contained in that zygote are all of the instructions for how and when that cell will divide, which genes will be turned on and off at what times, and what types of specialized cells will be created in what locations in order to produce the more than 200 types of cells that are needed. The cells are not randomly produced and distributed, but rather are organized into the appropriate organs. For example, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons are located in the brain while the insulin-producing cells reside in the pancreas. The various organs and tissues assemble into a complex structure, the human body, with head and trunk, arms and legs, right and left, front and back all in proper position. The cells in the brain capable of sight extend forward in the face forming eyes, a beating four-chambered heart connects to a network of blood vessels, propelling blood, delivering nutrients and oxygen to every cell of the body and removing toxic cellular waste products. The nervous system, digestive system, reproductive system are all intricately formed to provide for life. As in post-natal life, programmed cell death is part of the process of life. In utero, this means that instead of webbed fingers and toes, certain cells destroy themselves so that fingers and toes develop as separate structures.[i]
The zygote and early embryo may not be impressive to the human eye, but given the opportunity to implant in the uterine wall, in nine months that group of cells -- that embryo -- will be a baby, capable of independent life.
King David had a
proper humility when he contemplated God’s formation of him in the womb (Ps.
139). He was filled with wonder as he reflected on God’s care from generation
to generation: “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4) Christians ought
to encourage serious reflection on the complexity of our creation in the
scientific, medical and political communities. The Church needs to be part of
the conversation. Decisions to implement genetic engineering have implications for future generations that even the most intelligent among us cannot comprehend or predict. If God is truly the Sovereign Creator of all things—and I
believe that he is—we human beings should not be mucking around experimentally
thinking we can improve what God has created in human kind.
“Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?” (Isaiah 29:16)
[i] Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and
Future Research Directions. Appendix
A: Early Development. Department of Health and Human Services. June 2001. http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport
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