An End in Sight

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It is hard to believe that someday in the very near future, scientists will have the ability to cure any disease or any form of sickness that one can encounter. This astonishing new technology is called gene therapy. Gene therapy, in short, is replacing “bad genes,” with “good genes;” it is a way of manipulating one’s genetic code. This can potentially lead to scientists making someone like a human computer, or a extraordinary athlete, because scientists can change one’s genetic composition however they want. In many ways, gene therapy is relatable to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While gene therapy is mostly used to cure sicknesses, and Jekyll used a potion to release his inner darkness, the similarities between the two concepts go far beyond the fact that they both give obvious advantages to the individual. However, these similarities are very limited, and the differences are the most noticeable. One of the many similarities between gene therapy and the potion used by Jekyll is that they are both used to reduce involuntary suffering. Dr. Jekyll used the potion because he felt it would help him overcome the lack of evil he was able to let out. “There was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, from its very novelty, incredibly sweet. I felt younger, lighter, happier in body” (Stevenson 67). Jekyll wanted the evil, he wanted to be let loose, and in doing so, he fulfilled his needs in a way that he wouldn’t have to suffer the consequences. Gene therapy is similar in that it also reduces involuntary suffering, however, it obviously is not a potion and obviously does not release a different body into the world. For example, an experiment was done on individuals who are born with an inherited eye disease call... ... middle of paper ... ...tion and his demise. Is that what can become of humanity if too much power is obtained? It’s a scary thought but a very plausible one. While it may seem cool to be able to have extraordinary abilities, will it lead to the demise of humanity? Works Cited 1. Beall, Abigail. “Gene Therapy Restores Sight in People with Eye Disease.” NewScientist. N.p., 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. 2. Bernardes, Jesus B. "Telomerase Gene Therapy in Adult and Old Mice Delays Aging and Increases Longevity without Increasing Cancer." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 04 Aug. 2012. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. 3. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. New York: Bantam Dell, 2004. Print. 4. "Transhumanist Declaration." HumanityPlus. N.p., Mar. 2009. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. .

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