In India, we kill one another in the name of religion. We pray one God and Faith against another. We believe novenas, pujas, rituals and super natural support from God would be able to combat the terrorists from Pakistan or even subdue the expansionists tendencies of China.
Interesting whilst we are busy defining “Nationalism” or praying to super natural powers to espouse our cause. Chinese scientists have already marched forward unraveling the mysteries of “Mother Earth”, built in our system for over 5000 million years, since the “Solar System” first emerged.
He Jiankuia Chinese scientist, using Cas-9 protein and Cas-9RNA complex to scientifically edit the Human chromosomal DNA produced CRISPAR babies, which are immune to the “controlling power” of the deadly AIDS virus, thus outsmarting the evil designs stored in the RNA of the retrovirus in question.
From a highly creative and an innovative society over 6000 years ago, wherein a treasure trove of knowledge still exists in our “Vedas”, we have slumped badly into being a Ritualistic society. In our Vedas we had questioned that if god existed, who created “the god”. On December 1, 2018, we celebrated world AIDS day in a ritualistic fashion, passively explaining our society in how have to avoid AIDS. Sadly, none of those propagating AIDS awareness ritualistically, knows about the structure and functioning of the AIDS virus.
A structurally tiny RNA molecule in the AIDS virus, is a wonder molecule which has the capacity through natural gene manipulation take control of the genetic information in our human chromosome and deactivate the genetic information control our immune system, defending our bodies against germs and physical harm to our body. Whilst in India focus is on social awareness and away from producing AIDS vaccine, in China scientists have already generated human embryos which go on to produce AIDS free babies.
There are two fields in sciences that are growing at a very rapid pace posing hopes with indomitable challenges to the future aspirations of mankind. We are trying hard to discover an exoplanet harboring intelligent life. The other field is the human endeavour to make planet earth sustainably comfortable, through the use of molecular biology and designer bio-technology.
Scientists today are left with challenges to meet the problems of growing poverty, pollution, food scarcity, pestilence and disease. All these due to wrong political decisions, be it to build statues at the cost of health and education of our society. Whilst astrophysicists are exploring the universe to discover other habitable planets, the “gene doctors” are today working on a wide variety of options to address the problems of hunger, diseases, climate change.
As said earlier, when the Chinese scientists managed to take the growing nuisance of AIDS head on by genetic editing of the embryos to produce “designer babies” immune to AIDS virus infectivity, there was a hue and cry, especially amongst the poor, over populous and scientifically backward Third World nations, saying that “Man must not play god”. In Goa there is only passive control of AIDS by NGOs, through social awareness programmes. No active scientific laboratory research to study the virus or to produce an AIDS vaccine in Goa. If we carefully look at the prokaryotic or bacterial genome it is just 1% the size of the eukaryotic human genome. Interestingly, the entire genetic material in the DNA is fully functional and useful, practically does all the enzymatic processes required for life and propagation, similar to the highly evolved complex human genome. Holding back scientific terminology and explaining the intricate processes involved in molecular biology, I would only like readers to understand that the human DNA has plenty of “junk DNA” or introns, whose functions are clearly known as this portion of the DNA does not produce hormones, proteins and other metabolites but remain perhaps inactive or dormant. The useful chromosomal DNA or the “exons” as they are called, are often not existing as a single straight continuous strand but by the process of transcription and subsequent translation of the genetic code, is engineered to produce the protein or hormone of interest like the insulin. We manufacture a car from nuts and bolts – so also a human body too consists of basic organic molecules, to form carbohydrates, proteins, fats, which in turn develop into muscles, bones, organs, etc.
To keep my essay simple and free of jargons of molecular biology, I simply say that DNA, RNA, ribosomal RNA, amino acids, and other cofactors, all work in tandem as a simple mega factory, using raw materials to produce enzymes.
The entire gene engineering and the preparation of edited gene products is a sequential straight forward, simple process, existing in nature for 3000 million years and not a novelty as played out to be by half-baked and ill-informed members of our society.
There is a long way to go in editing and replacing defective genes which can take care of diabetes, heart ailments, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, etc., besides combating diseases like AIDS, cancer and so on.
As we say, fortune favours the brave and the creative minds. We must find gene technology to place the nitrogen fixing gene as well as genes responsible for photosynthesis in human beings. Human beings could harness solar energy and control pollution and global warming at large. Today organ transplantation is a reality.
In India, we kill in the name of religion. We play one god of one faith against another. Chinese scientists have already marched forward unraveling the mysteries of “Mother Earth”, built in our system for over 5000 million years, since the “Solar System” first emerged.
(Dr Joe is a retired Professor & activist)
