In the movie “Gattaca” (1997), members of a dystopian society experience discrimination based on the quality of their genetics. The main character is not born with genetically engineered traits, unlike the majority of the population. This leads to his classification as an “invalid” and the denial of opportunities reserved for the “valids”—the genetically modified. Ultimately, he must assume the identity of another man with “better” DNA in order to achieve his goal of becoming an astronaut.
Over 25 years later, this movie is extremely relevant in the scientific community due to the revolutionary development of CRISPR: a biomedical technology that employs RNA and DNA-cutting enzymes to first identify and then modify genomic sequences of DNA.
CRISPR is a prominent topic of discussion due to its possibilities and ability to solve long-standing issues. For example, CRISPR has been used to modify the genome and engineer resistance in agricultural crops, making them more resilient to extreme climate and disease. Additionally, it has also been able to increase the size of certain crops like rice and soybeans. Therefore, CRISPR has the potential to increase long-term food security, an incredibly important goal given the world’s growing population.
In humans, CRISPR has the potential to introduce new, individualized treatment options for chronic diseases. Currently, CRISPR is approved in certain countries for treating disorders like sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Additionally, there are multiple clinical trials that are exploring its usage in addressing cancers and infectious diseases like HIV.
In May 2025, KJ—an infant facing severe carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency—was treated by a team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine with a personalized CRISPR treatment. This case study demonstrates the potential for CRISPR to serve as a safe and precise treatment for diseases introduced by rare disease-causing variants, which have few other treatment options. In KJ’s case, he was able to avoid a liver transplant, which would have been dangerous at his young age. Although his health status needs to be routinely monitored, KJ is currently doing well.
However, certain limitations to CRISPR must be noted. For example, CRISPR can introduce off-target effects, which arise when CRISPR edits unintended segments in a genome. Additionally, CRISPR can also trigger cellular responses, like apoptosis or even cell mutations, and provoke immune responses. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge these limitations and emphasize making CRISPR even safer and more precise before introducing widespread use.
CRISPR also elicits many ethical questions. For example, CRISPR is costly, so can we justify introducing additional healthcare disparities between countries due to their relative incomes? Additionally, is CRISPR warranted for individuals who have genes that increase their likelihood, but don’t guarantee, their development of disease later in life? Is it okay to use CRISPR to genetically engineer infants for aesthetic purposes?
These questions provoke arguments that need to be carefully considered. Although CRISPR is an incredible feat in biotechnology, it is crucial to proceed with caution in order to avoid major eugenics concerns, negative side effects and more.
