What Does it Mean to Be Human?

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Bio-Technology

Bio-tech Trends and Innovations

% of 4300 BioTech start-up and emerging companies in 2023

Source: StartUs Insights, Jan. 2023

Editing Creation

With the large amount of biological data available, biotech companies utilize AI, big data, and analysis to understand and engineer genomes for commercial purposes.

With the rapid reduction in genome sequencing costs, gene editing applications are becoming more prevalent and more widespread.

Gene sequencing and gene editing technologies can be applied to a variety of situations including human editing, animal manipulation, crop development, and pharmaceuticals.

Emerging biotech presents Christians with essential ethical questions and emerging challenges to God’s sovereignty.

Cost of Genome Sequencing

Source: National Human Genome Research Institute, 2022

Existing Gene Editing Applications

Source: Signals, pg. 124; Bergen 2017

Research on Gene Editing

“Scientific research on gene editing is…”

Source: Pew Research Center; International Science Survey, 2019-2020

Infant Gene Editing

Changing a baby’s genetic characteristics to…

Source: Pew Research Center; International Science Survey, 2019-2020

Scientific Limits

Research and application of gene editing is increasing, despite a general global hesitancy. However, this hesitancy changes when asked about specific applications. When applied to illness or sickness there is a much higher acceptance than when considering enhancing humans.

There is a general global hesitancy towards gene editing.

Generally Christians across the globe hold a more reserved position than the general population regarding the use of gene editing to change genetic characteristics.

Religion and Gene Editing

% who say research on gene editing to change genetic characteristics is appropriate

Source: Pew Research Center; International Science Survey, 2019-2020
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