The Fat Gene: Will It Regulate The Human Form?

I recently read an interesting article about scientists having found the master regulator gene that helps control fat metabolism in the human body. Apparently the ALK gene, or rather its absence, results in resistance to weight gain. It could prove to be a turning point in our ability to fight obesity and obesity-related diseases like diabetes.

Essentially it means you either do not have the gene naturally or turn it off artificially, then eat as your heart desires without gaining weight. Of course, this is an initial finding based on a study of a genetic database of just 47,000 people in Estonia with trials on flies and mice only. Further research is required on what else it affects, before it can be practiced on humans.

A quick Google search came up with a host of articles explaining the complexities of the finding. However, the actual details were scant, with the focus being on catchy headlines like unlocking the secret to staying slim and looking good rather than on the medical benefits. Considering obesity is almost a global epidemic now, along with a culture of thin or skinny being considered beautiful, the attention is not surprising. Imagine the benefit, no more exercise or dieting; just get the gene turned off and bingo, you become thin.

However, this made me wonder where are we going with our genetic engineering? The intent of scientific research is usually to treat people with medical issues, but it may result in a wider use for the purpose of enhancing perceived beauty goals. A case in point is plastic surgery. It was initially used to treat facial wounds of war veterans or people in need, but soon people realised its ability to be used in enhancing the features of perfectly healthy individuals. Today, the projected size of the global cosmetic surgery industry is approximately over $20 billion and increasing. Are we going to go the same way with genetic engineering too?

This is an individual case and may not have a major impact today, but should we not be looking at the bigger picture? It’s a matter of time before we can map the entire human DNA sequence and its uses. It will result in great strides for medical science and will give us the ability to fight all sorts of diseases.

Conversely, it will also give us the means to control us and our own creation. Will children be born as per their parents’ preference? What will stop them from asking, to not only turn off the ALK gene and giving them a chance to remain slim but go further to pick hair and skin colour too? In today’s world of #Blacklivesmatter and #alllivesmatter, parents may do it to give their kids a better chance at acceptance and success.

This could mean the very definition of beautiful may change as anyone can look a certain way. Once you can control people’s physical characteristics, there won’t be much difference between physical beauty and fashion. It may change as a fad with every generation or we may all end up looking similar. If straight hair is considered beautiful, every kid will be born with straight hair. Don’t you think it will be a boring world?

Another scenario could potentially be to increase our physical attributes like say strength, by modifying genes. Sports associations would have to work harder at testing not just chemical traces but genetic traces too.

This may hasten our evolution process with natural selection being replaced by artificial and accelerated selection, influenced by perceived short term benefits but having long term consequences. It may alter the course of humanity itself. It may not work as fast as upgrading a robot but will definitely make a huge difference within the span of a few generations.

And what about the cost? Will it remain exclusive and tightly controlled by the haves while the have not’s get left behind, resulting in an even larger class divide? A handful of people may increase their mental capabilities and control others too. It may all sound like a fantasy but so was the movie Contagion in 2011, before COVID-19 hit us in 2020.

Any advancement in science always has a positive side, which must be nurtured and developed. However, maybe it’s time we agree to a globally coordinated approach towards genetic engineering for humanity. As long as it is controlled with strict ethical and practical ratification protocols across nations, to prevent misuse of these methods, any advancement to medical science is welcome. After all, no one wants to be responsible for preventing a cure which could potentially save a human life. Who knows it could be you, me or someone we love, who needs it tomorrow.