CRISPR is a technology that can alter genetics. In his book Hacking Darwin, Jamie Metzl discusses the ethical implications of CRISPR. Specifically, what CRISPR or genetically-altered/enhanced individuals mean for the future of the human race. If “superhumans” are stronger, “sexier,” and more sophisticated than regular people, new classes would emerge to favor these superhumans. Standard, old humans would be left in the dust while these powerful new enhanced individuals reign supreme in sports, politics, and anything else they set their mind to. After all, it’s in their genes.
But that’s way into the future. Things still need to shift in that direction. For now, people are ostracized from society for the most minute things. First, it was religion—next, sexual orientation. Now, its political identity. In the future, the genes you were born with versus the genes engineered for you may play a vital role in how the public sees CRISPR babies and adults.
Ostracisation doesn’t have to be as explicit as the Nazis with German-Jewish folk. Being ostracized can be implicit, as you will soon see. Think about it like this: a CRISPR child walks into a classroom in Toronto. The child (a boy) is immediately recognized as a CRISPR-enhanced kid; he is taller than his classmates, speaks more fluently than them, and understands interpersonal skills better. On the playground, he is faster, more agile, has more stamina, can climb quicker, and jump higher. In the classroom, he can piece together concepts faster, be more articulate with his questions, help out his classmates stuck on problems (which he has proactively finished), and keep up with the teacher where the rest of the class falls behind.
Forget social norms for a second. This kid would be hated severely. It’s one thing to be smart on your own accord and have the kids in the class come to you for help. It’s another thing for your parents to be wealthy and have edited your genes to put you further ahead than the masses.
It seems a little far-fetched now, but in ten years, when CRISPR kids walk the halls, your child may come home and demand to know why they were not genetically enhanced as an embryo. Good luck explaining your financial situation to them. But where does the ostracizing come into play? No one wants to let the “different” kid into the group when they know the different kids will take over the group.
For instance, if you know someone is taller, smarter, faster, and overall better than you at most things, why would you allow that person in your group? You would lose your status immediately, assuming you were the “top dog.” Moreover, considering how reluctant kids are to accept differences in others and how easily they can bully or form cliques against an individual, it seems a tad bit mad to suggest that CRISPR kids would not be targeted for their enhancements. Bullying of those that are different has gone on as long as social groups have been around. But this form of targetting was towards people who had no other choice but to be different. Consider a minority in a predominantly white neighborhood. Even with a moment’s glance, they stand out from the crowd and are ridiculed for their characteristics. But people do not choose to be born minorities. Now, even that has changed. Parents would make a decision to alter the genes of their kids, making them a minority, giving them the genes to be taller, smarter, faster, stronger, etc. CRISPR minorities would not be ostracized solely for their differences. They would be ostracized for their advantages.
This turns the CRISPR kids against their parents: “Why did you edit me? The kids at school hate me!” Will CRISPR kids be forced into a class that only houses other CRISPR children? Will new “CRISPR curriculums” be formatted because these enhanced kids fly through the “regular, old curriculum?” due to their increased intellectual capacity? Metzl even describes workplaces favoring CRISPR adults over regulars because these CRISPR adults would be more efficient.
CRISPR will change everything. Even outside of humans, one would instead get a dog that is CRISPR-enhanced with faster sprint speed, stronger muscles, better loyalty/hearing abilities, sharper fangs, etc. Even cats, mice, snakes, birds, and bunnies could be subject to CRISPR enhancement. The world is shifting in the direction of CRISPR babies more and more. The only problem is: If CRISPR babies aren’t ostracized at the beginning, then as regular humans, we would be ostracized at the end.