Script FinalExam Debate
Script FinalExam Debate
conduct.
Introduction: Have you ever thought that you could have been born with an IQ
above normal? that you could have been born with extraordinary strength? Well, my
name is Ana and I come to tell you that this would be possible through gene
Main point: Between 2018 and 2019, doctor He Jiankui genetically modified three
babies using the CRISPR-Cas9 method, so that they would undergo a mutation so
But firstly, what's the CRISPR-Cas9 method? It is a genome editing tool that is
creating a buzz in the science world. It is faster, cheaper and more accurate than
previous techniques of editing DNA and has a wide range of potential applications.
Because it was an illegal practice, he was arrested but last year, in 2022, he was
released and gave an interview to the South China Morning Post, where he reported
that currently the babies are leading a normal, peaceful and undisturbed life.
Now think with me, if a doctor has already managed to create a human mutation
where people are immune to the HIV virus, imagine everything that would be
possible to do through gene therapy, how many thousands of people could be cured
greater longevity, so that we can have a life where we don't need to worry about
diseases, for example, and I believe that through gene therapy and the modification
Introduction: My name is Arthur and have you ever thought that if you were born
through gene therapy your free will would have been violated and you will have to
carry a burden that you did not choose to. ‘We cannot play God with changes in the
human genome’, warns the UN. That is a concern for united nations and the
international bioethics committee (IBC), “The great fear is that we may be trying to
“play God” with unpredictable consequences” and in the end precipitating our own
assembly in 2004. Genetic modification gives too much power on the hand of the
still in the experimental phase, so we don’t know the possible outcomes, and it
Main point:
guinea pigs, in this case humans, may die along the way. Adding new genes
to a nucleus does not guarantee they will go where desired, with potentially
disastrous results if they insert in the wrong place,also the vectors may deliver
the DNA to cells other than the target cells, with unforeseen results. The
danger objection points out that a few recent attempts at gene
2) It isn’t ethical, at the same time it could be used for the good, like curing
longer feel human, or the human race will feel alienated from itself. People
will be alienated from other humans and prejudice may grow against those
people.
territory.
Ana: Arthur, I have a question for you: How can you be so sure this would go
wrong? Because as I said, three babies who were genetically modified actually have
a normal life.
Arthur: The problem is that it isn’t 100% accurate. There are some news about a
failed gene therapy such as the gene inserted into a boy's cells to cure the disease
Christof von Kalle, a doctor from Cincinnatti (USA) who collaborates with the French
Arthur said that gene therapy is risky because it is in the experimental phase and
we don’t know the possible outcomes, but I disagree because with this technology
we were able to make newborn babies immune to HIV, and what this method does is
just taking something that already exists and adding it to the DNA. Therefore, genetic
modification can make life easier, and not with more problems as Arthur said.
main point:
First of all, in recent years, it has been reported that two babies were born with
gene mutations that gave them unusual strength, such as the little boy Liam
Hoekstra, who at just two days old was already able to support his own weight due to
a mutation in his DNA that made your body produce muscle very quickly. After
studies and analyses, doctor Anneleen Stinckens, from the Catholic University of
Leuven, Belgium, pointed out that after the discovery of this mutation, it is possible to
cure diseases that involve muscle atrophy and even with an advanced level of
studies, in a future that is not so far away to create super humans who can contain
this new mutation, and thus have great strength. In addition, It is ethical because
with the CRISPR-Cas9 method, scientists were able to make newborn babies that
were immune to HIV, and besides giving them an immunity, the other factors are still
like all the regular people, what gives them an opportunity to live regular lives, not
inferring in the ethical part of it. Also, every technology before being developed has
to go through an experimental phase, and this gene therapy method is not any
different. Considering this, it is a necessary risk for only a few in order to make the
Ana said that it is possible to modify people through gene therapy in favor of
changing specific characteristics and excluding others, such as to cure and eradicate
diseases, for example the HIV virus. But I disagree, we do not know how the human
body would react , it could cause new problems that we do not know how to solve,
the team did not reproduce the known mutation. Instead, they created new
mutations, which might lead to HIV resistance, but might not” about the case of
Jiankui.
Another example proves it with germline and hereditary human genome editing,
which alter the genome of human embryos and can be transmitted to subsequent
Though, the modifications of gene could cause some sort of inequality , once that the
historical eugenics movement of the earlier part of the twentieth century in America
and Nazi Germany. “Eugenics” is the view that we should improve the genetics of
the human race; often advocated are such practices as selective breeding, forced
people with disabilities, people of other races, people of other ethnic groups. It
took place, but eugenics sentiments existed prior to that in the U.S. These practices
are now largely viewed as morally abhorrent. Critics of genetic modification see it as
Lucas: First of all, CRISPR-Cas, which for the entire area of science is considered a
more practical, fast, precise and effective way, in addition to also having a lower cost to carry
out. Through a report by doctor Drauzio Varella, he says that the cheapest gene therapy
currently on the market is CRISPR-Cas, this way, it is more accessible to the entire
population, and thus, it has once again revolutionized the modern era. So saying that gene
therapy is going to generate social disparity, do you also refer to the CRISPR-Cas9
method?
others, it still is expensive when we are talking about the reality of the population in
our society. Though CRISPR-Cas 9 is not the unique method that is used in genetic
modification, this way we have other methods that are very expensive, for example
the CAR-T cells to deal with cancer that costs about 400.000 dollars, according to
As Lucas and I said, through gene therapy, especially the CRISPR-Cas9 method, it
is possible for the human species to have a lifestyle where we do not need to worry
about many diseases that could be prevented. If we create super humans, with
super strength, for example, it would be guaranteed that we would have greater
security or it would also be possible to carry out countless activities that are only
possible to be carried out through machines, with a person with an IQ above normal,
we could develop more and more In our society, we could create more practical
methods for carrying out tasks, in addition to the fact that with a person with an IQ
above normal, they would very possibly discover things about us and the world that
are not possible due to our limitations. Creating superhumans would be breaking
barriers, breaking our limitations, creating a revolution that is essential for humanity.
With all this being said there are five main points against gene therapy and
engineering: It is potentially dangerous, it is not ethical, the power that gene therapy
gives to the people may clash with bad intentioned people, it would create inequality
between people who can and can’t afford this therapy and can reinforce eugenicist
ideas.
Research: According to BBC, Many countries ban the practice altogether, allowing
In the United Kingdom, for example, scientists can carry out gene editing research
grand crossfire
Arthur: If there is an accident regarding gene therapy, who will be responsible?
Ana: I will answer through an example. When I said about the 3 babies that were
genetically modified, we don't know what could happen in the future of their lives. In
this way, doctor He Jiankui has already predicted what can be done, it would first be
possible to create a health plan paid for by those who financed the project or the
government itself could help with the treatment of children, in addition it would also
be possible for ordinary people, who It has nothing to do with the case, also help with
Lucas: To the argument about not knowing how the human body would react to the
gene therapy, wouldn’t we just run tests to acknowledge what could happen?
Mateus: Yes, but this modification could cause damages to the person who receives
the treatment, causing unexpected and maybe unknown consequences to the health
In light of the arguments made in today's debate, we have upheld the resolution……
because the new gene therapy CRISPR-Cas9 method, and gene therapy in general
gave us a chance of creating new generations that are already immune to HIV and
and intelligence. And in conclusion, we would not be creating something new, but
just copying the genes that already exist, but just for a few people.
that genetic modification is an area that can be considered new because we do not
know future consequences of the application of this. It can be harmful to the society
inequality in the society due to the price of treatments, it also can cause health
problems in the future to the ones who receive the treatment developing unknown
https://biolyse.ca/gene-therapy-pros-and-cons/
https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/gene-therapy