This blog post takes an in-depth look at how rapidly advancing gene design technology is reshaping human capabilities and social structures, ultimately posing a threat to the future and survival of Homo sapiens.
In the near future, fetal genetic manipulation technology has been perfected, ushering in an era where a child’s intelligence, health, lifespan, and more can be predetermined before birth. This technology significantly increases the probability of receiving a ‘qualified’ designation for selection as an astronaut during the spaceflight candidate screening process. Conversely, children born through natural conception without genetic manipulation are mostly deemed ‘unqualified,’ destined to live as surplus humans. This mirrors the future society depicted in the 1998 sci-fi film “GATTACA,” which portrays a harsh structure where highly advanced biotechnology determines an individual’s life before they are even born. The future scenario Yuval Noah Harari describes is no different. He poses the question, “Couldn’t we genetically manipulate not only human behavior but also the very structure of society?” and warns that the scenes from a science fiction film made 20 years ago might become reality sooner than we think.
While the level of advanced technology depicted in the film has not yet been achieved, biotechnology utilizing genetic engineering has steadily and rapidly advanced over the past few decades. Humans have already succeeded in manipulating E. coli genes to synthesize hormones essential for the human body, created bizarre plants bearing both tomatoes and potatoes, and injected genes from polar organisms into plants to produce crops resistant to cold damage and frost. Recently, therapeutic substances that precisely recognize and attack only cancer cells have been developed. The emergence of CAR-T therapies, which manipulate immune cells to track and destroy cancerous tissue, is raising expectations that cancer treatment success rates will dramatically increase in the future. Such technologies have enriched and enhanced human life, leading many to believe they will serve as a crucial stepping stone for humanity to firmly establish itself as the dominant species in the ecosystem. So why, then, are these very technologies linked to the question of Homo sapiens’ ‘end’?
Humans have already succeeded in conducting research, once thought possible only in movies, using animal models. The field vole species typically exhibits promiscuous mating, with most individuals not fixed to specific partners. However, some individuals maintain lifelong monogamous relationships with a single mate. Geneticists isolated the specific gene responsible for inducing this monogamous behavior. When this gene was introduced into other field voles within the population, the promiscuous social structure was completely transformed into a monogamous one. This suggests that manipulating a specific gene alone can alter the entire social structure and behavioral patterns of a population. There is no law preventing such genetic manipulation from being applied to humans, nor is there a law prohibiting it. Current technological capabilities have already reached the point where humans can manipulate their own genes, and CRISPR-Cas9 and next-generation gene editing technologies are becoming increasingly precise and efficient since the 2020s. It is undeniable that more and more areas of society are rapidly reorganizing to align with these technological changes.
However, it is equally inevitable that ethical debates will inevitably arise alongside technological progress. Is it ethically permissible to manufacture customized humans according to a designer’s intent? Humans are beings who live with free will; can we truly say that even this fundamental will being adjusted before birth does not violate human dignity? Furthermore, might we be heading toward a society where the principles of natural rights and universal equality—painstakingly established by humanity over long history—are comprehensively negated?
Yuval Noah Harari states, “The modern era is the first in history to recognize that all humans are fundamentally equal, yet we are now poised to create unprecedented inequality.” If the perfect design of humans becomes truly possible, a gap in abilities will inevitably emerge between the ‘designed humans’ born in the future and naturally born humans who have not undergone genetic modification. This gap will inevitably lead to natural selection. The future society is highly likely to become a world dominated by so-called ‘perfect sons’ and ‘perfect daughters’—genetically engineered individuals possessing flawless appearances, healthy bodies, exceptional intelligence, and sincere personalities. They will naturally form the core leadership of society. Conversely, unmodified humans will experience discrimination across various domains and form the lower strata of society.
When genetic manipulation technology was first developed, its purpose was for human advancement and societal prosperity. However, as time passes, the scientists’ good intentions and ideals for human peace are increasingly likely to be exploited, potentially creating the greatest inequality, polarization, and severe social tensions in history. The upper class possessing manipulated DNA will assert their vastly superiority and excellence over other strata, create policies institutionally supporting this superiority, and seek to monopolize the technological foundations guaranteeing their privileges. It seems inevitable that the middle and lower classes, angered by this technological monopoly and tyranny of the elite, will react strongly. There is no guarantee that this conflict will not lead to revolution or war. Moreover, if genetic engineering technology spreads globally, causing similar social polarization in every nation, and the resulting inter-class conflict and physical clashes become reality, the ensuing social and civilizational collapse could well precipitate a situation deserving the label “apocalypse.” Can we truly assert, then, that such a future development is unrelated to the end of Homo sapiens?
