Can we create genetically superior humans immune to diseases, pain, and fear? Can we create a world with no pests, no invasive species, but nutritious and flavourful foods? If yes, should we be celebrating the new technology or be terrified of its power to change the world around us?
The longtime journalist Dan Rather’s new documentary, “Human Nature,” is depicting the story of most discussed and most important scientific discovery of the 21st century, the CRISPR. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats or CRISPR is a technique that holds power to change the fundamental chemical nature of who we are. The technique programs an enzyme to find a desired position on the DNA, make a cut at the location, adding, deleting, or editing the DNA.The goal of “Human Nature” is to have a conversation about what we want to do with this life-changing knowledge, Dan said.The documentary revolves around a young boy David Sanchez with sickle cell disease, a genetic disease that prevents the blood cells from delivering enough oxygen to vital organs. His ineffective treatment and brutal symptoms give a sense of urgency among the researchers to fix the faulty genes.
The director Adam
Bolt did a great job simplifying an extremely complex science into digestible terms before the moral arguments can be raised in the second half of the film. The story is narrated by a range of scientists from Jennifer Doudna, the co-founder of CRISPR to a man who develops cultures for yogurt brands, patients, and others like the founder of a startup that developed human-compatible organs inside pigs.
“Human Nature” also explores the idea of resurrecting an extinct species with a Harvard research lab. The 3D graphics borrowed from microscopic imagery make the concept understandable to even those without prior knowledge.
After the much-needed knowledge transfer, the movie raises some ethical concerns. The same scientific panel sheds light on this side of the discussion. They present the facts and arguments with little lineation, giving the viewer the luxury of wrestling with their own opinions. The movie raises a lot of questions, and it does not pretend to have the answers.
“We could now engineer a single gene that could potentially make us all muscular, but should we make that universally available?” asks George Daley from Harvard Medical School.
Like the Russian President Vladimir Putin suggests in a 2017 clip, will CRISPR be used to create super soldiers capable of killing without pain or fear? Will it be used to create designer babies?
Dr. He Jiankui in China made headlines last year when he claimed he used CRISPR to make twin babies immune to HIV. According to some scientists, this should have impacted the brains of the twins. Do we have the right to manipulate the genomes this way with our limited knowledge on many aspects and lack of understanding about how these genetic alterations will inherit and bring consequences generations ahead?
Even when the scientists continue to polish the technique and explore the possibilities of CRISPR, Doudna and colleagues are haunted by these possibilities. The movie suggests you should be too.
“Human Nature tells the story of CRISPR genome engineering with a gripping mix of science and heart. It gives audiences a front row seat to a technological revolution that could reshape our planet and humanity itself. As we embark on a global conversation about an uncertain future, this film is essential viewing.” – Jennifer Doudna
“Human Nature” a new film on the technology, braids the tool’s promise and potential perils into a riveting double helix.” – The Washington Post
“Eye-popping film that should become required viewing for students and people of all ages.” – Glide Magazine
“Grounds the wild story of CRISPR with a healthy dose of humanity.” – Engadget
“Thorough, lucid, and engaging” – The Boston Globe
The documentary is subtle and clever enough to mock our notion of new scientific discoveries and our leap into the blind confidence that leads to the irresponsible use of new technologies.
The movie also makes an effort to increase the faith in technology by illustrating what it does. The CRISPR movie “Human Nature” is very educational but without the heft and depth of a science textbook. It entertains and at the same time, boasts an IQ boost.
About CRISPR and Its Career Scope
Despite the ethical concerns, CRISPR has been revolutionizing the scientific world since the 20th century. Many scientists and companies around the globe are still trying to figure out how this powerful technique can be used to change the world for better. They are investigating CRISPR’s potential for treating genetic disorders, eliminating pathogens, a recreation of extinct species and to produce nutritious and healthy food.
A lot of job opportunities exist in this field in research institutes and biotech companies. All you need to have is a postgraduation in life sciences or biotechnology and enough knowledge about CRISPR to crack the interviews.
Please tell me how I see this ( Human Nature) movie