Genetically modified babies in China? Where the search for the “perfect people” can lead, described by the Austrian author Marc Elsberg in his novel “Helix”. He is surprised?
At the beginning of the death of the US-Minister of foreign Affairs, caused by a genetically modified Virus. Investigators get on the trail of a secret project, with the aim to allow future generations of people by genetic engineering as a design babies grow up. The novel, “HELIX, you will replace us” by the Austrian writer Marc Elsberg appeared to 2016 in the Munich-based Blanvalet Verlag.
The apocalyptic Vision of the author proves to be daunting currently, since a Chinese scientist at the weekend announced the birth of genetically engineered babies.
DW: Mr. Elsberg, in China, scientists announced the birth of genetically engineered babies. Are you surprised by the news?
Marc Elsberg: Not really. As I had just started to write “Helix”, came the first reports of such experiments, according to which now, allegedly, these babies have been born, have already been carried out. At the time, has destroyed the fertilized eggs relatively quickly. However, these experiments already existed. It was also about HIV. In a second to a blood disease.
Among the majority of scientists, genetic engineering is frowned upon when people. Right?
In the current technical possibilities. And basically, we have the ethical Problem that we are told here to future human beings, to put it crudely: Tinker, who in turn have no influence on it.
Under today’s ethical standards, this is would be a blatant violation of the people.
There are the perfect people?
Who defines what is perfect? The human being is, ultimately, just another stage of development in organic life. And when I look at the eight billion out there, each a bit different: What is supposed to be perfect?
“Violation of human dignity”
In her book, “Helix”, you have described a world in which genetic manipulation just before the breakthrough. What fascinates you about the topic?
On the one hand, the technical progress of the last years, above all, of course, the new CRISPR/Cas technology. On the other hand, the new possibilities in the analysis of Genomes. So that you can learn today to be more precise: the Gene XY is partly responsible for this feature or that behavior. We now know that these are very complex mechanisms.
Marc Elsberg
In addition, I improve in my environment, more and more of this self, the pursuit of self-optimization is observed even in the case of the children! Children are already peppered sent to kindergarten age in language courses, promoted in music and Sport, with the additional knowledge, so you Know-the devil can exist in the upcoming competitions for good Jobs, to partners, to what, as well as possible.
My Reasoning was: What if these two aspects? What if parents want to give their children the best possible opportunities for the future, have access to technologies that can give your children, from the outset, potentially higher chances?
“Who sets the standards?”
This attitude, “optimize everything”, makes the tests a good breeding ground for such people?
In any case. Of course, nothing wrong with that, to make things better. The only question is: Who determines what is better?
In “Helix” will be provided to the parents prior to the question, what properties do you want to determine if your child. Since it comes to things like physical performance, lower energy consumption, to appearance, size, intelligence. What never, is the ability to cooperate or friendliness of the properties, which are realized in our competitive Western world as a positive.
What if someone appropriates the Power to determine these things?
In other cultural contexts, it seems to come easier to such experiments.
In China, this message is paired with a different trend. Information technology is used to control the behavior of people. A dangerous development?
What System is produced in China with the Social Credit, is a nightmare. There is not just tinkered “1984”, in a scale that George Orwell could have imagined. Ultimately, it will be for this society is a great disadvantage, but the development is very worrying.
Error: an error occurred in the DNA?
We have to prevent that. But what is no less dramatic as we have in the last few years, almost on a voluntary basis in similar systems go – only that they are not controlled by the state. The big difference is, we can still discuss it, and even the means and measures to be taken.
What needs to happen now? We need something like an International genetic manipulation-monitoring authority, as in the case of nuclear power?
To do this, you should be able to communicate once international. After the first attempts, which were at that time known, was in a hurry conferences leading geneticists. The could not even agree on a Moratorium on human Trials. The question is whether that can now succeed. The international political situation makes me very optimistic.
Marc Elsberg, Born in 1967, is actually Marcus Rafelsberger. Among his choice comments, the Austrian writer, published most of his seven novels. His youngest (“Helix – you will replace us”) revolves around the topic of genetics.
With Marc Elsberg, Stefan Dege language.