Pathogens are microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites,
that can cause diseases in humans, animals, or plants. These infectious
agents have the ability to invade and multiply within the body, disrupting
normal physiological functions and leading to various symptoms and
illnesses. Pathogens have been manipulated through genetic engineering to
create enhanced pathogens. But why are they enhanced? Since the 1970s,
researchers have been manipulating the DNA of microbes to give them
abilities they didn’t have before. This is called “gain of function” work and it
includes a huge body of scientific research. These advancements raise
ethical dilemmas and practical challenges. Enhanced pathogens possess
altered characteristics that enhance their virulence, transmissibility, or
resistance to treatment. The impact of pathogens on human health is
significant, ranging from common colds to devastating pandemics like
COVID-19. Ethical dilemmas include dual-use research, potential bioweapon
misuse, and biosecurity breaches. Practical challenges involve informed
consent, equitable access to treatments, and long-term consequences.
Striking a balance between scientific progress, biosecurity, and responsible
research is crucial to mitigate risks and protect public health. If this
technology brings so much risk to our safety then why is it created in the first
place? The purpose of this project argued that by creating these enhanced
pathogens we could learn crucial information about a worst-case-scenario
virus under controlled conditions. But many critics argued that it’s unclear
whether a virus would ever evolve in the wild as it did in the lab. What
happen of the COVID-19 pandemic was maybe a wakeup call that it could
happened. Consequently, they believed the knowledge gained by studying
this dangerous virus wasn’t remotely worth the risk of creating it in the first
place. Both sides of this ongoing debate are trying to save lives; if choosing
what’s right is the right thing to do, what if the choices are both right?
Righteous!