PASSION Articles

Media, a diverse spectrum we engage with daily, spans various forms including film, art, writing. This realm has seamlessly integrated into our modern society, shaping our perceptions and experiences. Embarking on a career within media demands dedication and diligence to craft a final product that not only resonates with one's creative vision but also appeals to a diverse audience.

However, the recent rise of artificial intelligence (AI) use has brought many pressing issues to the attention of various scales of concern. A major example of issues due to artificial intelligence within the media resides within the film industry. AI has the ability to complete the writing of an entire script, for example. Connoisseurs have been concerned that screenplays and scripts have been generated with this technology, which would result in decreased creativity and effort into projects— possibly risking legal repercussions associated with plagiarism. While this issue may go unnoticed by audiences, creative directors and writers have undoubtedly been affected by a decrease in wages. In response, these professionals have halted their projects until this is reformed and they receive adequate compensation. This movement has been dubbed the “2023 Writers Guild of America strike”. Support of this response has been demonstrated through various protests and boycotts. 

2023 is not the first year to see a writers strike. In fact, they have dated all the way back to 1960 where, although artificial intelligence did not play a part in the issue, those working with film and television were getting paid much less than they should’ve been due to the emergence of TV shows. This led to the creation of residuals in which  workers receive long-term payments for reruns.  

Yet film is not the only form of entertainment seeing this kind of effect. Artificial intelligence has also been an issue for art because it doesn’t only have the ability to generate writing, but images as well. From graphic designers to even traditional painters, artists are concerned their works may be at risk of being stolen and profited off of by others. This issue has even been brought to the Supreme Court of The United States in which they rejected a computer scientist's lawsuit over AI-generated inventions. The ruling stated patents can only be granted to human inventors and that his AI couldn’t be a legal creator.

The absence of widespread support of this issue may lead to the emergence of further complications stemming from the implementation of AI. While progress has been made at a small scale, such as resolving the screenwriters' strikes, a resolution for actors is still needed. To overcome these challenges, our generation can actively spread information through social media, sign petitions, and enhance their understanding of the subject. 

Provided below are select petitions aimed at advocating for those grappling with this ongoing issue:

• https://www.thepetitionsite.com/794/029/524/actors-in-hollywood-are-striking.-it’s-time-sag-aftra-listen-to-their-demands./

• https://www.change.org/p/protect-human-art-artists-from-artificial-intelligence-ai

It's far from a new discovery that social media has a negative impact on many today, in all aspects of their lives. One aspect especially, however, is the impact on our personal relationships and how we communicate within them. Quick access to each other and our thoughts through social media has made it hard for most to interact with others outside of that environment. 

On the positive side, social media has made it easier to connect with loved ones all around the world and provides a platform to maintain long-distance relationships, share life updates, and stay informed about each other's lives. Social media use was especially essential during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time where communicating with sick loved ones was crucial. 

In addition, communication has also become more instantaneous through messaging apps and video calls, enhancing real-time interaction. Yet, the digital world often lacks the nuances of face-to-face conversations, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations that most don’t experience through a screen. This shows from our everyday interactions with classmates, to presenting issues on a more global scale, lapses in communication can affect everyone. 

Social media's impact on today's relationships and communication is a mixed blessing. A tool to be used and enjoyed, but also one to be cautious of. It offers connectivity and convenience but necessitates careful navigation to maintain healthy, meaningful connections in our increasingly digitized world. Taking a step away from the online spaces more often can have a much greater impact than most realize.

For those who struggle especially with in person communication, HelpGuide.org and The eLearning Industry offer some resources: 

● Effective Communication - HelpGuide.org 

● 6 Tips On Communicating With Others - eLearning Industry

In kindergarten, when you are asked to put down what you want to be when you grow up, many answers include firefighter, veterinarian and police officer. Another common job that pops up in the minds of children when they are asked this question is a doctor. While this is a cliche answer, many of those very kids grow up and eventually have the desire to pursue such a career. With all these fantasies of wanting to become a doctor or a healthcare worker, how is it that there is a healthcare worker shortage in the United States? It would make sense for so many people to choose the healthcare profession, however, recent studies have shown a decline in healthcare professionals in the United States. 

This decline did not happen overnight, rather, this has been a recurring issue that has failed to be addressed in society. In the mid-1930s and the years entering World War II, there was an increased demand for nurses throughout the United States in order to help the Army. According to “Where Did All the Nurses Go?” by Jean C. Whelan, over 77,000 nurses were taken to serve and aid in the Army. By taking an estimated 25% of the nurse population in the United States, the need for nurses in the civilian population increased exponentially (7). In order to reduce the increasing demands for nurses, medical students were brought into hospitals to administer bed-side care to civilians (Whelan 8). While this gave temporary relief to the impending situation, it only kicked the can-down the road until it became an issue for the next generation to handle. 

Most situations such as these are usually expected to just resolve by themselves. However, this is not the case and now the shortage is worse than it was in the past. Not only does this drastic shortage in healthcare workers affect everyday Americans, it also directly affects the performance of the current healthcare professionals. A statistic by Morning Consult Pro named “Nearly 1 in 5 Health Care Workers Have Quit Their Jobs During the Pandemic” shows that 4 out of 5 healthcare workers believe that they are being affected by the current healthcare shortage. Professionals such as nurses and doctors will be forced to deal with too many patients at a time, reducing their efficiency and eventually, causing them to burn out. There have been numerous cases where healthcare professionals are currently leaving due to how overworked and overlooked they are. Another important factor to consider that has contributed to the shortage of healthcare workers is the increasing aging population. According to “ A Public Health Crisis: Staffing Shortages in Health Care” by the University of South Carolina, censuses have shown that 16.8% of the United States population consists of citizens who are 65 and older (4). Elderly people require a lot of care and attention, which is not possible due to the current shortage situation. Many of the elderly population come to the hospital with diseases and disorders that require care and comfort by the healthcare professionals. The increasing aging population unfortunately only adds to the urgency of the shortage problem because it only increases the demand on something that is running out and fails to be replenished.   

Fortunately, many measures have been taken to alleviate the intensity of the situation. According to “ A Public Health Crisis: Staffing Shortages in Health Care” by the University of South Carolina, medical personnel have been moved into civilian hospitals to aid the local hospital personnel (10). Many measures have been taken in local hospitals to prevent the burning out of hospital personnel. For example, AI has started to be used to arrange the schedules of healthcare professionals in order to ensure that workers are not overworked and that everyone has an equal amount of workload (USC 19). Long term measures such as telehealth have been implemented to help deal with cases that can be easily taken care of over the phone rather than going to the hospital (USC 20). Together and through the passage of time, the medical personnel shortage can slowly be fixed. However, the help from societies, countries and local communities are crucial in this step. Together, it is necessary that we band together and not be divided over such an important issue. Sooner or later, there will be an increased number of healthcare workers in the United States and the world through the current strenuous effects that our community is striving to do. 

The following are resources that you can go to in order to help stop the shortage of medical personnel: 

• https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/virtual-care

• https://www.healthcarousel.com/post/strategies-for-addressing-the-healthcare-workforce-shortage

Works Cited

Galvin, Gaby. “Nearly 1 in 5 Health Care Workers Have Quit Their Jobs During the Pandemic.” Morning Consult Pro, 4 October 2021, https://pro.morningconsult.com/articles/health-care-workers-series-part-2-workforce. Accessed 16 October 2023.

“A Public Health Crisis: Staffing Shortages in Health Care | USC MPH.” USC online MPH, 13 March 2023, https://mphdegree.usc.edu/blog/staffing-shortages-in-health-care/. Accessed 16 October 2023.

“Where Did All the Nurses Go? • Nursing, History, and Health Care • Penn Nursing.” Penn Nursing, https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/workforce-issues/where-did-all-the-nurses-go/. Accessed 16 October 2023.

Water is the most vital resource for human prosperity. Understandably, it has been an incentive for war in the past, but population growth and climate change have led to the diminution of water today. This caused tension amongst countries, particularly in Asia because it is the most populous continent and, hence, the most water-stressed. While water scarcity is an ecological concern, it has global implications through Asia's politics and history. To alleviate age-old conflicts, a solution for water scarcity must be reached by examining water wars of the past, Asia's water laws, and the implementation of an active solution: reclaimed water.

The historical context of water-related conflict in Asia is crucial to develop a solution to water scarcity. In South Asia, the Indian and Bangladeshi conflicts stemmed from a lack of understanding of both sides about authority over the Ganges River, but this water war has prompted more tension. Pia Malhotra, research officer at the Institute of Peace and Conflict, states, "The issue of illegal migrants particularly complicates the matter between the two countries" (Malhotra, 2010). Sarfaraz Alam, Ph.D. researcher at UCLA, explains this has led to hostility due to cultural barriers between the natives and refugees (Alam, 2008). With the twenty million Bangladeshi living in India and utilizing their scarce resources, it is clear they are hesitant to compromise with Bangladesh about the state of the Ganges River. They have already accommodated the refugees and as a result, have suffered. India's political resentment of Bangladesh amplifies this fight for authority over the Ganges. 

Further, Bangladesh refuses to reach its water needs differently which is understandable given their fear of losing freedom if they become involved in conflicts. While India suffers, "Bangladesh complains it gets flooded during monsoons because of the release of excess waters by India" (Malhotra, 2010). Bangladeshi citizens experience disparities, but due to their recent sovereignty, they fear engaging in agreements with the powerful state of India. In 1996, both prime ministers signed a treaty to share the Ganges River to alleviate the conflicts. However, Ishtiaq Hossian, professor of politics at Jahangirnagar University, states, "The main opposition political party in Bangladesh criticized the Awami League government for signing the treaty" (Hossain, 1997). In fact, Bangladeshis claimed this was "selling" their sovereignty and being "favorable" to India (Hossain, 1997). With these opposing views, it is difficult to imagine a solution where both parties will be pleased, and this is why a solution has yet to be created. Hossian, Alam, and Malhotra agree India and Bangladesh have trouble seeing each other's points of view. However, Hussain provides the fearful perspective of Bangladesh and its unwillingness to be controlled as they were by Pakistan previously. On the other hand, Alam stresses the distrust India has for Bangladesh. There are points to sympathize with both arguments. However, if both nations continue to approach this issue based on their interests, a compromise will never be attainable, nor will a solution for water scarcity. 

The world has developed laws regarding water, but Asian countries have historically and presently failed to address the issue. China is one of the world's most powerful nations. Therefore countries have feared developing agreements to combat water scarcity involving it. Brahma Challaney, professor of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, writes China, “asserts that flowing waters are subject to full sovereignty of the state where they are located. Thus claiming 'indisputable sovereignty' over waters on its side of the international boundary, including the right to divert as much shared water as it wishes for its needs" (Challaney, 2014). China's authoritarian government has led them to claim any bodies of water surrounding it- even if they are not theirs. 

Kerry R. Bolton, author in the peer-reviewed journal World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues, provides a contrasting perspective to China's authoritarian approach Challaney introduces. Although China is stubborn, it is evident its lack of conformity with Asia has proven to affect them negatively. For instance, the Himalayan Mountains stretch through Tibet, which Beijing has sovereignty over. As a result, some rivers in India are controlled by China. Due to China's refusal to share its water supply, "India placed a ban on imports from China," which hurt its economy (Bolton, 2010). This demonstrates the impacts water conflicts can have on all other aspects of national relations. The solidarity of China is ironic as it is at an extreme insufficiency of water compared to its abundance of other resources, which are now also being hurt by retaliation from India.

Water reclamation, the process of converting wastewater into usable water, is a probable solution to water scarcity, mainly because it does not require compromises. However, nations still hold concerns about its implementation. According to the Center for Environmental Management at Kyoto University, Japan implemented reclaimed water in 1980 for urban uses such as irrigation and plumbing (Takeuchi & Tanaka, 2020). This was before other countries had begun to use reclaimed water to alleviate water scarcity, but Japan is resistant to water insecurity due to its wet climate. Therefore, recycling water was not a dire issue and Japan could experiment with its effectiveness on a smaller scale. While many nations are ingesting recycled water, Japan is still concerned about the logistics. Haruka Takeuchi, researcher at Kyoto University, stresses, "even though quality guidelines for reclaimed water were established in 2005, they only cover E. coli, turbidity, pH, appearance, color, odor, and residual chlorine. To guarantee quality and obtain public acceptance, it is important to establish quality standards that cover contaminants" (Takeuchi & Tanaka, 2020). Japan faces dilemmas in implementing recycled water due to social beliefs that it is not as clean as traditionally filtered water, so many refuse to consume it. 

On the other hand, countries in Asia have successfully implemented reclaimed water and subsequently solved tensions with other nations. Singapore, for instance, was highly reliant on Malaysia for water in the past. Joey Long, Ph.D. recipient from the University of Cambridge, discusses the past conflict between Singapore and Malaysia regarding their water compromise, "guaranteed by two compacts signed in 1961 and 1962" (Long, 2001). Although these two treatises ensure Singapore could depend on Malaysia for half its water supply, Malaysian authorities threatened to stop this system because of their heightening issue of water scarcity. 

Due to Singapore's constant fear regarding its water supply, a solution was detrimental to ensuring security. So, in 1997, Singapore's water agency turned to recycled water. At the Changi Water Reclamation Plant, completed in 2008, this "used water" is "purified further through microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet disinfection before being remarked as NEWater Singapore's brand of high-quality reclaimed water" (Bufe, 2009). As a result, recycled water has eliminated the conflict and put Singapore ahead of many Asian countries still struggling with water scarcity. While Takeuchi does not convey urgency for Japan's need of water reclamation, it was necessary for Singapore because the water was deemed a, "determinant factor sparking violent conflict between Singapore and Malaysia" (Long, 2001). As a result, they put in more time and money to develop this technology and alleviate their crisis. 

After observing the strained relationships between countries in Asia due to water scarcity, it is necessary to implement a safe and rapid solution. While Japan has faced dilemmas with reclaimed water, Singapore's success with recycling water makes it clear it is the best solution for water scarcity and national tension. The process of recycling water needs to be regulated to be sure the water contains no contaminants, as Takeuchi stated, which is already implemented through Singapore's reclamation plant and NEWater. Water scarcity has critical global implications through Asia's history and current political state that are necessary to understand in order to establish that reclaimed water is the most achievable solution to alleviate Asia's water scarcity and mend century-long conflicts. 

Here are some resources in order to take action and help support the mission to alleviate water scarcity around the globe:

• https://charity.org/cause-funds/clean-water/

• https://www.waterlogicaustralia.com.au/resources/blog/how-people-are-resolving-to-reduce-water-scarcity/

References

Alam, S. (2008, April 3). Environmentally induced migration from Bangladesh to India. Strategic Analysis.

Hossain, I. Asian Affairs: An American Review. (1998, Fall). Bangladesh-India Relations: The Ganges Water-Sharing Treaty and Beyond. 

Bolton, K. R. (2010, Spring). Water Wars: Rivalry Over Water Resources. World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues, 14(1), 32.

Bufe, M. (2009, August). In Singapore, Used Water Is NEW. Water Environment & Technology, 21(8), 4.

Challaney, B. (2014, August 1). Bangladesh-India Relations: Issues and Problems. Asian Survey, 54(4).

Long, J. (2001, December). Desecuritzing the Water Issue in Singapore—Malaysia Relations. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 23(3), 29.

Malhotra, P. (2010, July 1). Water Issues Between Nepal, India and Bangladesh: A Survey of Literature. 

Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Kyoto University, Shiga, 520-0811, Japan & Tanaka, H. (2020, June 15). Water reuse and recycling in Japan — History, current situation, and future perspectives. KeAi Chinese Roots Global Impact. 

For thousands of years, the medical field has been evolving and developing new inventions that have changed the face of medicine. The still-advancing practices and treatments in the area have led to cures of diseases that would otherwise be untreatable or even fatal. One of these expanding medical fields include the specialty focused on genetics, the study of genes and heredity. In the past decade, the branch of genetics has extended their research and discoveries on gene editing, the effects that the procedure has on the subjects, and whether or not the method is beneficial. Gene editing makes it possible for the "DNA sequence of a living organism" to be specifically edited when necessary in determined locations, which means making a structural change in the organism by modifying its DNA (Griffiths). Anthony Griffiths, the author of the article has written numerous published books and textbooks about genetics, including “An Introduction to Genetics Analysis” (“Anthony J.F. Griffiths”). He is now a professor of Botany at University of British Columbia, and based on his work experience and knowledge of the subject, he is an authentic source of information. The practice of modifying genes has been beneficial on the occasion where impaired genes lead to harmful mutations that can cause diseases such as: sickle cell or cancer. Nonetheless, the procedure can negatively affect one’s health by causing accidental changes in the DNA and therefore causing additional mutations, some of which are damaging.  

With the practice becoming more popular during recent decades, gene editing technology has raised moral conflicts with regards to the principles and ethics of conducting experiments using the procedure. In June of 2016, He Jiankui, a biophysics researcher and associate professor of genome editing at Southern University of Science and Technology of China in Shenzhen started a project to edit the genes of human embryos. Aiming to a successful completion of gene modification, Dr. Jiankui used genetic engineering to intentionally modify three human embryos that included twin girls and a third separate child so they would be born without HIV, the disease the babies were genetically predisposed to have. Although all three of the children were born after a few months, "there is still no definitive evidence that the biophysicist actually succeeded" (Cyranoski). The case attracted attention worldwide in the medical community as Dr. He Jiankui raised bioethical concerns by conducting such a new and risky procedure on the viable human embryos without certainty of the outcome. 

As the technique allows for changes to be made in the DNA, it also enables the selection of desired traits, "leading to changes in physical traits" (“What is genome editing?”). Considering that parents could have the ability to essentially create a child with their own desired traits by changing the hair, eye, and even skin color, the technology would not only become an ethical concern but also a diversity issue in view of the fact that by selecting these preferred characteristics in humans, animals, and plants can lead to a decreased number of genetic diversity in the environment. Genetic diversification is essential in the resistance of changes in the environment for the sustainment of life in general, it is what causes natural selection and grants species the ability to not go extinct.

Being one of the most outstanding scientific discoveries of the century, the new technology created by the French professor and researcher of microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier and the American Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Jennifer Doudna, was developed to modify the genetic information of an organism. Their creation was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, and also led them to being the first two women ever to share a Nobel Prize. The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR-Cas9) was developed in 2011 and it uses enzymes to locate, remove, and add a new sequence of DNA wherever the guide RNA (gRNA) finds the targeted location of the mutated gene (“What is CRISPR-Cas9? – YourGenome”). With this recent development in the medical field, there are two different types of gene treatments: germline and somatic therapy. In germline therapy, the change is made in reproductive cells “(sperm and eggs)”  which indicates that the change made will be passed down to offsprings, and consequently changing generations to come (“What is genome editing?”). In somatic therapy however, the procedure focuses on changes on non-reproductive cells, limiting the changes to the individual alone and making them non-heritable mutations (Human Genome Editing: Science…). In the treatment for sickle cell, it is used somatic gene therapy, which is also what was utilized in 2019 when Victoria Gray, a sickle cell disease patient, was the "first person in the United States to undergo treatment for a genetic disease using a CRISPR-based therapy" (“Meet Victoria Gray, The …"). On the mark of one year after the procedure was completed on Gray, "The billions of genetically modified cells doctors infused into her body clearly appear to be alleviating virtually all the complications of her disorder", meaning that the method appears to have accomplished its objective and it is lessening the effects of sickle cell disease on Victoria’s body (Stein). 

While the treatment is beneficial in some cases, it is still a new invention that needs more extensive research before being tested in view of the fact that the chances of a mistaken gene being edited are considerable. The biggest issue with the new technology is the chance of unintended changes in the DNA, and although some mutations can go unnoticed, others can be harmful. Bluebird Bio, a biotechnology company that develops gene therapies in the United States was suspended in February of 2021 in their clinical trials after two patients "were diagnosed with cancer, 5 years after receiving treatment", the treatment used was gene therapy for sickle cell disease (“Gene therapy needs a long-term approach”). Three years prior, another patient was "diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome" (“Gene therapy needs a…”). Gene editing is a technological field that was developed relatively recently and therefore needs further research prior to being applied, specially to humans, to prevent errors.

In the economic viewpoint, gene editing technology can demonstrate two different perspectives. The technology was very expensive to be developed, and since there is still research being conducted on its benefits and harms, the cost extends. The development of a gene therapy treatment can cost approximately $5 billion, which is “more than 5 times the average cost of developing traditional drugs” (Irvine). As a consequence, the treatment is overpriced. Zolgensma, for example, a medication developed by the Swiss-American company Novartis to cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease that progressively worsens as the child ages, can cost €1.9 million and is considered the highest pricing medication ever approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in England (Nuijten). Although diseases such as SMA can happen anywhere, the access to these life-saving drugs are limited with the price being this excessive; therefore, the drug is likely to only be used in more developed countries.

On the other hand, gene modification brings economic benefits in a sense that it aids in the management of production and loss of livestock and crops. Gene editing makes it possible to accelerate “fertility and growth”, strengthen resistance to diseases, and increase the adaptation to climatic changes for plants and animals (Ricroch). For instance, by genetically modifying potatoes, the vegetable can resist a fungus that threatens crops in Europe: late blight. The group of scientists specialized in biochemistry was conducting the research and a “three-year trial has shown that these potatoes can thrive despite being exposed to late onset blight” (McGrath). Genetically modified bananas are also able to resist “deadly fungus that causes Panama disease” (Stokstad). Professor James Dale was part of the group of researchers who made the discovery on the fungus-resistant bananas. Professor James Dale specializes in research related to Agricultural Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and Microbiology. He received his Ph.D and Bachelors of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc.Agr.) at University of Sydney, and is beginning his career as a Director of the Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities (CTCB) at Queensland University of Technology (“Academic profiles - Distinguished Professor…”). The history of Professor James Dale adds strength to the source, but the weakness of the source is that it does not include the name of other contributors. By not specifying who are the other members participating in the research, it leads to doubts in the trustworthiness of the source. Panama disease has affected crops in Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas and the groundbreaking technology will be able to alleviate the issues that the disease brings (Stokstad). By genetically modifying crops, it is possible to decrease the substantial amount of crops that go to waste each year due to diseases. Producers would profit significantly more by reducing the waste, and consumers would benefit from the reduced cost of production. 

Gene editing technology can prevent diseases such as Zika virus, chikungunya, yellow fever, and dengue by treating the fundamental cause: the transmitter. The female mosquito of the Aedes Aegypti species transmits these diseases mainly in tropical regions of the world, including Brazil, where I was born, and in Florida, where I currently reside. About 8 years ago I had the unpleasant surprise of being diagnosed with dengue after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The disease lasted for a few days and it was intimidating to learn that serious cases of dengue could lead to death. Another family member of mine was also infected around the same time, which added to my family’s worry. Like me and my relative, “up to 400 million people get infected” by dengue annually, and each person can get infected more than once (“About Dengue: What You…). To try to prevent the continuous cases of diseases caused by Aedes Aegypti, genetic engineering is being used to control the population of the species. The first genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes have already been released in Florida Keys, United States, where “locally transmitted cases” of Zika Virus and dengue have been reported, mainly because of the tropical weather of the region (“Florida — Oxitec”). The GM mosquitoes carry a gene that prevents the female mosquitoes from “surviving into adulthood”, since the males cannot transmit diseases (“Genetically Modified Mosquitoes | Mosquitoes”). Furthermore, the mosquitoes carry a “fluorescent marker gene” to help scientists recognize genetically modified mosquitoes in the wild. These changes made in the laboratory will be passed to the offsprings as a way to assist in the reduction of the population; therefore, the number of cases of Zika virus, chikungunya, yellow fever, and dengue will decrease. Oxitec, the company that delivers these modified mosquitoes around the world has already released and had successful results in Florida, California, Brazil, and Djibouti, but they continue to expand the project worldwide. 

Although the negative aspects of genetic engineering should certainly be taken into consideration, it can be concluded, based on research, that the benefits of using genetic engineering nowadays outweigh the disadvantages that the technology brings. With prudent use, gene editing technology can be environmentally, ethically, scientifically, and economically beneficial. While the recently developed technology needs further research, it is also true that gene editing treatments like CRISPR-Cas9 is a quicker and safer alternative than other options such as selective breeding. Selective breeding is the process of designating “which female and male individuals mate” and the process traditionally takes generations to get completed (“Biotechnology / Selective Breeding”). Not only is genome editing quicker, it is also safer due to the enzymes used to specifically target damaged DNA, minimizing the chances for error. In the final analysis of the research, it can be observed that further improvements are necessary in the enforcement of bioethical regulations to prevent unethical experiments from being executed. Nevertheless, the benefits outweigh as the technology encourages the well-being of animals, plants, and primarily humans.

Work Cited

“About Dengue: What You Need to Know | Dengue.” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/about/index.html. Accessed 7 January 2023.

“Academic profiles - Distinguished Professor James Dale.” QUT, https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/j.dale. Accessed 10 January 2023.

“Anthony J.F. Griffiths.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Anthony-JF-Griffiths/5549. Accessed 10 January 2023.

“BIOTECHNOLOGY / SELECTIVE BREEDING.” Pathwayz, https://www.pathwayz.org/Tree/Plain/SELECTIVE+BREEDING. Accessed 10 January 2023.

Cyranoski, David. “The CRISPR-baby scandal: what’s next for human gene-editing.” Nature.com, 26 February 2019, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00673-1. Accessed 12 December 2022.

“Florida — Oxitec.” Oxitec, https://www.oxitec.com/florida. Accessed 7 January 2023.

“Gene therapy needs a long-term approach.” Nature.com, 15 April 2021, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01333-6. Accessed 12 December 2022.

“Genetically Modified Mosquitoes | Mosquitoes.” CDC, 25 July 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/community/emerging-methods/genetically-modified-mosquitoes.html. Accessed 7 January 2023.

Griffiths, Anthony JF. “DNA sequencing | genetics.” Britannica, 19 December 2022, https://www.britannica.com/science/DNA-sequencing. Accessed 3 January 2023.

Human Genome Editing: Science, Ethics, and Governance. Washington, DC, The National Academies Press., 2017. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK447271/.

Irvine, Alison. “Paying for CRISPR Cures: The Economics of Genetic Therapies.” Innovative Genomics Institute, 16 December 2019, https://innovativegenomics.org/news/paying-for-crispr-cures/. Accessed 3 January 2023.

McGrath, Matt. “Genetically modified potatoes 'resist late blight.'” BBC, 17 February 2014, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26189722. Accessed 7 January 2023.

“Meet Victoria Gray, The First CRISPR Sickle Cell Patient.” Innovative Genomics Institute, 19 November 2019, https://innovativegenomics.org/multimedia-library/meet-victoria-gray/. Accessed 7 January 2023.

Nuijten, Mark. “Pricing Zolgensma – the world’s most expensive drug.” Journal of Market Access & Health Policy, vol. 10, no. 1, 2021. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8725676/. Accessed 7 January 2023.

Ricroch, Agnès. “Global Developments of Genome Editing in Agriculture.” Transgenic Research, vol. 28, no. 2, 2019, pp. 45-52. National Library of Medicine.

Stein, Rob. “Experimental CRISPR Treatment For Sickle Cell Disease Appears Effective : Shots - Health News.” NPR, 23 June 2020, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/23/877543610/a-year-in-1st-patient-to-get-gene-editing-for-sickle-cell-disease-is-thriving. Accessed 7 January 2023.

Stokstad, Erik. “GM banana shows promise against deadly fungus strain.” Science.com, 2017, https://www.science.org/content/article/gm-banana-shows-promise-against-deadly-fungus-strain#:~:text=A%20field%20trial%20in%20Australia%20has%20shown%20that%20genetically%20modified,banana%20growers%20in%20the%20Americas. Accessed 7 January 2023.

“What is CRISPR-Cas9? – YourGenome.” YourGenome, 8 February 2022, https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-crispr-cas9/. Accessed 7 January 2023.

“What is genome editing?” National Human Genome Research Institute, 15 August 2019, https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/what-is-Genome-Editing. Accessed 7 January 2023.