Hacking Darwin : genetic engineering and the future of humanity

An all-encompassing look at the future of gene editing. It covers everything from ancient history, today’s practices, upcoming practices, to possible moral, political, and scientific issues in the coming years. Gene editing is looked at from individual, scientific, governmental, international, and religious viewpoints throughout. War, athletics, space pioneering, individual data protection, and AI are some lenses looked through for speculations on a global scale.

The author’s science fiction writing experience shines in a few example scenarios in the book of going to future clinics. One is being put in his character’s shoes and having to face a moral scenario like embryo selection: seeing all of your different potential children on a projected wall, as hundreds of probability statistics, and all of the ethical conflicts that come with it, is very effective at envisioning a similar future reality. While IVF, CRISPR/Cas9, embryo selection, aging, and longevity are thoroughly discussed topics, the author doesn’t lose sight of the importance of keeping our humanity, privacy, and diversity.

So much is explored and presented for healthy, proactive discussion.

- What if a country has voted on gene editing regulation, but neighboring countries are creating genetically advanced soldiers?

- Will empathy and creativity, initially forgotten in the gene editing and AI craze, become increasingly valuable qualities?

- Will different races, sexual preferences, and disorders cease to exist?

- Will we become more susceptible to natural viruses and germs with a more genetically uniform species?

- If you select a male embryo with a genetic proclivity for fast twitch muscles, but he develops an aversion to sports, did you ruin his chances in life?

- Will a gap form between enhanced and un-enhanced individuals?

"If people have gone ballistic over the environmental, GMO, and abortion debates—if they have manned the barricades and destroyed research centers over genetically modified crops, or attacked abortion clinics and murdered doctors—imagine what they might do when the same diversity of individual, cultural, societal, and governmental views inspires different national approaches to the emerging science of genetically modified people."