Genetic Engineering and Genetic Alteration of humans

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Some may call it an equilibrium in survival terms but I don't think it is a good balance as far as the health of humans and the prospects for future human fitness if the trend continues.

You don't think the advances in technology and medicine that have made people healthier are good for the health of humans?

Not at the moment but maybe in the future.

That has always been the case; if the environment changes, a previously well-adapted population will typically be less well-adapted. The accumulation of neutral and slightly deleterious mutations during the well-adapted phase can be a useful source of variation for selection and adaptation to the new conditions.

Not according to several papers. They say that disease-causing mutations can stem from changes in the epigenome.

That is not the same thing. If you read the papers, you'll see that they are using the term 'epigenetic mutations' to refer to epigenetic changes (that don't change the DNA sequence) and 'genetic mutations' to refer to changes in DNA sequence.

Changes in the expression of genes is also a genetic change that can cause diseases and disorders in humans. These are mostly caused by lifestyle.

Where, in those papers does it say epigenetic changes are 'mostly caused by lifestyle'?

Isn't cancer caused by mutations? Though cancer is the result of an aging population many cancers are increasing because of lifestyle. This includes Gastrointestinal cancers associated with diet, Obesity leads to several types of cancers, skin cancer with temperature rises, sexually transmitted diseases from cancer like HPV which is associated with 40 different mutations.

The Three Reasons So Many People are Getting Cancer (Op-Ed)
The Three Reasons So Many People are Getting Cancer | Live Science

The number of new cancer cases is on the rise globally. This is mainly due to two factors: people are living longer and exposure to risk factors is growing. Low- and middle-income countries will face the highest increase in cancer rates unless the exposure to risk factors is reduced.
WHO | Key statistics

If diseases and disorders have a genetic basis whether that be by mutational changes or changes in the expression of genes and there has been an increase in diseases and disorders due to modern lifestyle isn't that evidence.

That WHO report says, "About 30% of the cancer deaths could be avoided by a change of life style and more healthy behaviours." That is less than a third, so the stats don't seem to bear out the claim that it's 'mostly caused by lifestyle'.

 

[ViaCrucis]

This is another thread about the christian views of scientific advancement series, so what do you think about genetic engineering and genetic alteration of humans? There have been many recent advancements in this area such as Viral Gene Therapy and CRISPR to edit human's and animal's DNA. Under the doctrine of Christianity is this against what you believe is ethical, even if it cures disease and genetic illness?

Link1 = What is gene therapy?

Link2 = First in-body CRISPR human trial targets hereditary blindness

Link3 = How Gene Therapy May Hold Key to Treating Life-Threatening Cardiac Disease

Link4 = Gene therapies show promise for pediatric treatment

There's nothing in Christianity that this would be problematic at face value. It would entirely depend on application and purpose--like anything else.

Using the science to improve the lives of millions--billions even--of people is a good thing.

Where I worry is how such things might be used in the wrong hands. I've seen enough science fiction movies to be wary of the potential abuse of such ideas. C.f. Gattaca.

-CryptoLutheran