Hi, so I'm new to google groups so I apologize if I'm replying to the wrong post in this thread. I figured it was better than starting a new one.
I have three interests in CRISPR;
1: Deleting my Y chromosome and inducing other edits in a variety of genes such as ADAMTS9, HOXC10, FTO and LRP5 and others to adjust my fat distribution and body shape (I'm transgender;)
>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5701507/
>Elimination of the Y chromosome in vitro and in vivo
>Together, these results indicate that the Y chromosome could be selectively eliminated in vitro and in vivo by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated multiple cuts at chromosome-specific repeated sequences
2: Knocking out my MC1R gene to induce red hair,
3: Knocking out my OCA2 or HERC2 gene to induce blue eyes.
I'm not sure deleting the Y chromosome would actually have any meaningful effect - but knocking in or knocking out various other genes might have an effect on WHR. This could be very beneficial for a transgender person 'passing' as the opposite sex. Considering that Gender Identity Dysorder is a formal diasnosis, and that cosmetic surgery is considered ethically justified in the case of gender transition, how could CRISPR be denied to a transgender seeking genetic 'bodyscupting?' Objectively, good results with traditional fat transfer are hard to achieve, and implants are illegal in the USA (I think.)
The entire ethical justification against cosmetic CRISPR falls apart once you've allowed transgender use of the technology. Why let a transgender delete their Y chromosome, but cis-gendered people (Or transgenders) can't modify their eye or hair color?
In this Geneva statement, as many have already noticed, there's a sentence I find frightening;
'Prospective parents at risk of transmitting a genetic condition already have several options to avoid doing so, should they find them acceptable. For example, prospective parents may seek to have unaffected children via third-party gametes or adoption'
Because as a transgender, if I continue HRT, I'll likely need advanced reproductive technologies if I want biological children. Also, this following sentence seems to contradict the value of third party gametes and adoption;
>In nearly every case, prospective parents at risk of transmitting a genetic condition who wish to avoid doing so and to have genetically related children can accomplish this with the existing embryo screening technique preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) [5]. While PGD also raises troubling ethical questions about what kind of lives we welcome into the world
PGD can and is used to select phenotype. Most white people with brown eyes carry one copy of the blue eye allele - any two whites and many mixed people such as African Americans could obtain a child with blue eyes via PGD.
The legal opposition to PGD in many countries across the planet, and the social opposition in places like the USA reveals why germ line editing is opposed;
'Racism and xenophobia are resurgent around the world'
Which apparently means I can't use CRISPR to give myself blue eyes.
I hate to admit it, but it feels like the anti-CRISPR side has won the debate. It's impossible to get a hold of the Cas9 enzyme or the gRNA unless you're an academic. And the people who have access to it will never use it for anything other than 'genetic diseases.' And albinism seems to be one of those diseases, and my desire to knock out OCA2 and become an albino is probably considered insane. Immortality will probably never happen.
Metaphorically, the pro-CRISPR and anti-CRISPR groups broke a wishbone, and the pro-CRISPR group was on the losing end. And it hurts. It hurts so bad to have been told 'No.' To be forced to continue to live in skin which doesn't feel like your own when a solution exists;
>https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/more/hanley20151111
>Make Gender Reassignment Real - A Letter to Dr. Anthony Atala
>Brian Hanley
>Then, gender reassignments are often late in life and the best years are felt to be past. In addition, gender reassignment surgery is more than a little wanting.
>Those who undergo gender reassignment surgery and hormone treatments do not get a sex change. A male to female surgery today will not produce a full biological woman when it is done. A person will likewise not be a full biological man if changing from female to male. This can be very disappointing in a life filled with broken dreams, and people who get surgery can find that their field of potential partners has not expanded, it has narrowed
All I can do is beg other human beings - my supposed equals - for the right to change myself with CRISPR. I'm posting here out of a hope that people will be convinced to allow me and others to modify their Sex Chromosomes and pigmentation.
