Evolution by Intelligent Design

Artificial chromosomes could be used as Trojan horses to sneak useful new traits into the human genome.

Bioengineers will likely control the future of humans as a species. This prediction comes in the wake of recent news that scientists at the University of Wisconsin and Kyoto University in Japan have transformed adult human skin cells into pluripotent stem cells, the powerhouse cells that can self-replicate and develop into almost any kind of cell in the body. The ability to change one type of cell into others—including a sperm or egg cell, or even an embryo—means that humans can now wrest control of reproduction away from nature. By selectively adding or deleting stretches of DNA in the (artificially) fertilized cell, scientists could knock out genes for a disease like diabetes or insert genes coding for extra height or intelligence.

Changing an offspring’s DNA gene by gene can be tedious. The centromere contains proteins that control the delicate process of cell division. Some of those genes could convert ordinary cells into stem cells that might reseed the immune system, aid in rejuvenation, and more. Once the genes were delivered, the centromere needed for that chromosome to survive could be turned off. Other daughter cells would not have the reprogramming genes.

“Nature doesn’t care about individual children. Pluripotent stem cells, gene targeting, and artificial chromosomes could leapfrog over evolution and let us take control of our genome, maybe even turn ourselves into a whole new species.” Through the nuanced use of biotechnology, enhancement evolution will gradually introduce genes that improve the species, one person at a time. Enhancement evolution has plenty of critics.

Susan Vanderzyl
VTPP 435 - 501
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/02-evolution-by-intelligent-design