Human beings have an inherent attribute to make things right. From the surrounding environment to our appearance, we want everything impeccable. We go to all lengths to attain perfection. I know this well, as I have made a career out of trying to achieve perfection; first as a scientist, and then as an editor. I correct things and admire everyone who does the same. Naturally, I was elated when I read that a group of Chinese scientists had edited the DNA in human embryos to make them resistant to the deadly HIV, which causes AIDS. Imagine a world free of AIDS, of a disease that has zapped doctors and scientists alike for more than three decades. The discovery of the CRISPR-CAS9 DNA editing technology has enabled scientists to tinker with the DNA of living organisms. Imagine the possibilities of being able to discard undesirable traits and incorporate desirable ones! It is a heady feeling to know that scientists could soon have the power to improve the quality of life by eliminating debilitating diseases such as Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and many more.

The above is one perspective -- a scientist’s perspective, but there is also the ethicist’s perspective, and of course, the science fiction writer’s or the film producer’s perspective. The ability to edit DNA has sparked an ethics debate globally because the possibilities of this technology can be endless. The scientists in the study mentioned above discarded the embryos but ethics organizations worry about the broader implications of this technology, which has the potential to be abused for personal gains. The scenario of “perfect child hopefuls” checking traits on a form is every ethicist’s nightmare. Then, for some, freckles and pimples could be the worst things to have happened in their evolutionary history. “Doctor, can we please ensure that our baby never gets a single pimple on her face?” We might even see certain traits for skin or hair color being favored over the others. It is scary to imagine a similar-looking future generation thanks to DNA editing, right? Of course, genetics is not as simple as eliminating a trait by eliminating a single gene, but it is worrisome that we might be on a path to eliminate certain traits from our species.

We are still a long way from using DNA-editing for frivolity, but we can certainly expect some Hollywood blockbusters about custom-made humans in the near future. A more adventurous producer with an anthropological mind bend may even tackle genetic classism. Some may reiterate Uncle Ben’s words, “Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility!”