When I got the email for Shiv’s table talk about genetic engineering, the thing that stood out to me the most was that it mentioned pigs (!). I don’t adore pigs, although I did love Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web. I was just curious- what do pigs have to do with genetic engineering?

A lot apparently- 0ur table talk was fascinating! We talked about a new technology called CRISPR, a genetic engineering tool that can alter the DNA of cells by using a protein to cut out the unwanted portions of a cell and replace it with modified material. CRISPR is extremely versatile and easy to use, and it can be used in various fields. It can be used to cut out a genetic piece that would cause disorders in children, or make a plant immune to a disease. As a result, this technology is extremely valuable. However, there is a legal battle going on about who actually owns the technology- a professor in UCSF who first discovered its use in bacteria, or her partner who first applied this knowledge to the use of human cells.

But back to pigs. CRISPR can be used to alter pig DNA so that human organs can be grown in pigs. This would be revolutionary- thousands of people wouldn’t have to die every year because they can’t get a organ from a human organ donor. Instead, they can get it from a farm animal.

As good as CRISPR sounds, it has the potential to create huge ethical problems. For instance, someone at the table mentioned ‘designer babies’. Parents could use this technology to make their children have a certain eye color, or skip out on a hunched back gene. And the thing about science is that sometimes people don’t know where to draw the line.

CRISPR will probably win a Nobel Peace Prize one day (hopefully after the messy legal battle is cleaned up). However, it is important to recognize that as amazing as it is, it may potentially bring up future problems to society. I just feel sorry for the pigs.