Scientists May Have Found the Ultimate Human

By Rishi Ganesh

Today, the human race is extremely diverse, filled with people from all types of life paths, whether that may be racial, social, religious, or financial difference. The one thing that everyone has in common, however, is that we are not perfect, constantly unearthing flaws within ourselves that we sometimes wish we could correct. For ages, the question has stood:

What would the perfect human look, think, and act like?

These questions are getting closer and closer to being answered due to CRISPR, a gene-editing tool that uses the protein Cas-9 to splice and cut genes like a pair of molecular scissors and glue, allowing scientists to mix and match proteins to formulate new genes, and therefore new humans. CRISPR is a naturally-occurring region of DNA, normally used in humans to repair DNA after infections, but when manipulated, it has the ability to cut and replace certain sections of DNA in order to remove genetic flaws or mutations, adding in possible “improvements” to people.

This gene editing could drastically affect multiple species. Already existing in the agriculture industry is a form of gene editing in itself, in the form of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), which involve the insertion of a certain gene into a plant or animal to make it produce more produce, become hardier and need less resources, or even change or highlight certain flavors. Even the natural process has been genetically changing organisms for millennia in the form of evolution itself. In this way, CRISPR, GMO’s, and other gene modifications are just catalyzing evolution for the benefit of humans.

But how, exactly, does CRISPR change human history?

As soon as CRISPR becomes widespread and used by the public, generations of children will have exponentially increased intelligence as a result of gene editing. Additionally, it is likely that parents will try to utilize CRISPR to eliminate mutations that are hereditary and carried by the parents. Another use of CRISPR could be to allow parents to “choose” the appearance of their children, basically minimizing the hereditary factor in many different aspects of the attributes and characteristics of children.

CRISPR and its counterparts could bring about a utopia at their full potential, as the “coding of people” would ensure that only the flaws that make one unique without hurting them physically or mentally remain, adding a factor of near-perfection, likely leading to a reduction in self-consciousness and depression, as many teenagers nowadays are very conscious about their looks and often are judged against a social standard. This social standard would likely disappear if children felt pleased with their appearances.

However, rules and regulations must be put in place to keep CRISPR from being the controlling factor in society. Such a situation would cause a division in power and not allow many to receive the CRISPR editing, which could lead to an unethical, monetary-based intelligence among kids rather than allowing each child to have high intelligence. Essentially, CRISPR is a tool that has massive potential benefits, but only if it is a service that is provided universally rather than an option to widen the gap between those who are born rich and those who are born poor, not to mention the ethical side and giving the children themselves no control.

CRISPR is the future for the human race, and humans would be able to find a way to expand the reach of their control while retaining the humanity and emotion of our species.

Humans would not become perfect robots, but rather remain perfect humans.