KULLIYYAH OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

APPLIED MOLECULAR GENETICS (SBT 4323)

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT:

Cosmetic Gene Therapy – Social and Ethical Implications of Gene Therapy for Skin
Colour and Skin Aging

LECTURER

ASST. PROF. DR. ZAIMA AZIRA ZAINAL ABIDIN

NAME

NOR SHAFIQAH BINTI NOR SHAHRIL (1514232)

DATE OF SUBMISSION

26 MARCH 2018
INTRODUCTION

Gene therapy is a therapeutic approach discovered by scientists to replace faulty or

defected genes in human with better functional genes to cure or prevent certain diseases such

as cancer and infections. Some of the gene therapy also used to modify genes in human body

in order to enhance health or appearance. The most common technique to deliver gene therapy

is through injection.

Gene therapy consists of two types; somatic and germline therapy. These gene therapies

differed in terms of their inheritance of the modified genes to the generations. Somatic gene

therapy targets the cells that cannot be inherited. Somatic gene therapy only aims to cure

diseases of the patients or to improve their appearances. Meanwhile, germ line therapy targets

cells that can be passed down through generations.

Other than medical purposes, gene therapy also used in sports and cosmetic field. Many

athletes use gene therapy to increase mass of their muscles and energy for a better performance

during tournament. This act called as gene doping. Next, gene therapy for cosmetic appearance.

People nowadays use gene therapy to improve their appearance such as increasing height,

reducing body weight and restoring hair.

In this paper, the topic that will be discussed is the application of gene therapy in

cosmetic specifically in skin colour and skin aging. In addition, the social and ethical

implications of these applications also will be discussed.

THE APPLICATION OF GENE THERAPY FOR SKIN COLOUR AND SKIN AGING

Skin Colour

People around the world were created with the diversity of skin colour. In cosmetic

field, some group of people think that having a darker skin could be their disadvantage. Hence,

many skin whitening products have been produced to fulfill the desire of dark people to have

a lighter and fairer skin.

According to Crawford et al. (2017), the variation of the skin pigmentation is influenced

by genetic variation. The research led by geneticists from University of Pennsylvania targeting

African population to analyze the relationship between genetics and the diversity of skin

colour. In addition, the research aims to investigate the genetic-related factors that play an

important role in skin diseases. There were four findings discovered throughout the research.

Firstly, the team found that the gene called SLC24A5 is associated with the skin pigmentation

among Europeans. They also found that the MFSD12 gene codes for a protein that has

capability to modify the pigmentation in human cells that functions to synthesize melanin

(melanocytes). The lower the amount of MFSD12 gene in melanocytes, the darker the skin

pigmentation. It is because when MFSD12 gene modifies melanocytes, the melanocytes will

not be able to produce more melanin in human skin. Melanin is the natural pigment that gives

colour to human eyes, skin and hair. A darker people has a higher amount of melanin in their

skin.

Then, Crawford et al. (2017) also discovered that there is a group of genes that

responsible for DNA damage when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light which can

influence the skin colour. This finding can be related with the people from different regions of

Africa because those regions have different exposure of UV light. Last but not least, the
geneticists also found the variation of loci for OCA2 and HERC2 contributed to the diversity

of skin and eye pigmentation.

In another research that related to the genetics of skin colour, it is stated that there is an

enzyme that responsible for melanin biosynthesis. The enzyme is named as tyrosinase (Tyr)

(Wu, Chen, Chang, & Lin, 2008). The research team designed the microRNA named mir-434-

5p as gene silencing effector to limit the production of melanin. If less amount of melanin being

produced, the skin colour become lighter.

In conclusion, the scientists identified that there are a group of genes that give us our

skin colour in these recent years. Thus, if there is any further research regarding skin colour

changing genes for cosmetic purposes, people can change their skin colour through the

application of gene therapy.

Skin Aging

As people get older, their skin have more wrinkle. There are a lot of factors that can

cause skin wrinkles such as excessive exposure of sunlight, diet intake and many more. The

factor causing skin wrinkle that will be discussed in this paper is aging.

Scientifically, there are two reasons on why skin aging occurs; telomere shortening and

the bioactivity of hyaluronidase (Hyal) enzyme. Telomere is a part of the DNA structure

located at both end of the chromosome. After each cell division occurs, the length of the

telomere will be reduced continually. The length of the telomeres will be reduced and reduced

again with age until a critical point that can cause cell apoptosis and senescence (Shammas,

2011). At this stage, many cells were destroyed and lead to aging process. Aging process

includes skin wrinkles and health disruption.

Hyaluronidase is an enzyme existed in human body to degrade hyaluronic acid or

hyaluronan (HA). HA can give benefits as its function is to preserve moisture in human skin
(Begoun, 2017). Lack of moisture in skin is one of the factors that causing skin aging. Many

people used skincare products that contain hyaluronic acid as their routine to have a healthy

skin.

From the above factors, cosmetic gene therapy which related to delay skin aging can be

developed. Firstly, telomerase gene therapy. Telomerase is an enzyme that can lengthen the

telomeres. When the length of telomeres lengthen, the aging process will be delayed.

Telomerase gene therapy can slow down the aging process without causing any cancer (Jesus,

et al., 2012). The therapy also expected can give benefits to health which help people by

preventing any aging diseases such as osteoporosis, neuromuscular-related diseases and insulin

sensitivity other than skin aging. However, the research done by Jesus et al. only tested on adult

and old mice. This article can be a reference for other scientists to do a clinical trial on human

in the future regarding the telomerase gene therapy. On the other hand, gene therapy can be

designed to suppress the bioactivity of the hyaluronidase enzyme so that skin aging can be

delayed.

In 2015, a women named Elizabeth Parrish received two experimental gene therapy

that related to the antiaging; myostatin inhibitor (the therapy that aims to reduce muscle loss)

and telomerase gene therapy. She is the CEO of BioViva USA Inc. which is a biotechnology-

based company that is doing the research and she volunteered to become a first person to try

their own products. After six months of the gene therapies, the positive effects have shown

which her white blood cells reversed its biological age by 20 years (Mohammadi & Davis,

2016). The health status of the Parrish is still being monitored but the only good news that they

got so far is regarding the younger white blood cells. The company expects this therapies will

have more positive impacts on other organs and tissues including skin. In brief, a further

research need to be done by scientists in order to develop more advanced gene therapy which

can slow down the skin aging.

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF GENE THERAPY

Skin Colour

The application of gene therapy in changing skin colour could raise many concerns and

implications in society. Race discrimination is a big issue raised when skin colour can be

changed through gene therapy. As we know, skin colour is one of the signs to distinguish people

based on their races. If gene therapy for changing skin colour developed as germ line therapy,

a gene that correct the skin pigmentation will passed down through generations. Therefore, the

original identity of the certain races could be disappeared due to the therapy. For example, if a

couple from a race consisting of dark people receives this therapy, all their future generations

will also receive the genes that functions to whiten the skin. Hence, the gene will be spreading

throughout the race and the origin characteristic of their race will be slowly disappeared. In

brief, they will discriminate their own race.

On top of that, a high cost charged by the practitioners also will exclude middle and

lower class of people. Only rich people will afford to undergo this therapy. This also will cause

discrimination towards poor people.

Other social impacts raised by gene therapy of changing skin colour for cosmetic

purposes is public acceptance. There will take a long time for society to accept this application

of gene therapy for cosmetic purposes instead of medical purposes. Originally this therapy can

treat people who suffers from vitiligo, a condition whereby white patches developed on their

skin. Instead of having patches, the patient can receive this therapy to whiten all of their skin.

But for cosmetic uses, many things have to take into account. It is because people would be

intolerant towards people who genetically modified white and non-genetically modified white.
Skin Aging

Anti-aging therapies including skin anti-aging can give many impacts towards society.

Firstly, overpopulation around the world. When the lifespan of human can be lengthen, the

population number increases. There will be a high demand of food and other resources. People

will compete to get food, rich people will discriminate over poor people because the prices of

the food are getting higher due to the high demand. It is because telomerase gene therapy is not

solely for skin gene therapy, but it is also targeting to reverse the biological age of other types

of cells.

Next, discrimination of old people from rich group over old people from poor group

also will happen if the skin anti-aging therapy developed. It is because the therapy must incur

a high cost, and only elites are afford to pay the costs. People from rich group will belittle poor

people who cannot afford to do the therapy. Then, they will feel excluded and depressed

because of their wrinkled skins as more and more people do the gene therapy to reverse the

skin aging.

Gene therapy for reverse the biological age of the skin cells also gives positive impacts

towards society. When the cells are younger, it will improve the quality of life. People who

receive the treatment will become more motivated and confident because of their healthy skin.

At the same time, their work performance also increases.

ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF GENE THERAPY

Skin Colour

“Playing God” is one of the famous issue related to the human genetic engineering. In

this case, changing skin colour with an intention to enhance appearance meaning that people

are not satisfied with the creation of God. In Islam, it is prohibited to alter our appearance for

cosmetic purposes instead of medical purpose. Allah showed His Love creating us in the most

perfect form and providing us with good things. Changing the creation of Allah including skin

colour for enhancement is one of the signs that we do not be grateful as a Muslim.

In addition, the application of gene therapy on changing skin colour can give impacts

to the environment. The ethical concern raised on this issue because if all people have light and

fair skin, it will disrupt the genetic diversity of human around the world.

Skin Aging

As we know, skin is the largest organ in human body. To develop a better and safe gene

therapy, a lot of research need to be done. Testing procedure and many human prototypes will

be produced in order to achieve the goal. The human prototypes are still human. They need to

grow up and live like human, but if the testing failed, they have to live the consequences of the

experiment. In this case, it is unethical as it can give pressure to the human prototypes.

Moreover, the human body system is very complex. If the gene therapy only success to

reverse the biological age of certain cells, complications may occur. Only some cells are

younger, but other cells remained the same. All the cells in the human body will not be able to

communicate well and affect body health.

When all people are young and never aging, life means nothing to them. Skin wrinkles

is one of the signs of getting older. Sometimes, people will realize their mistakes and improve
themselves as they getting older. But, if the gene therapy of skin aging being developed, all

people will become younger. They will do anything they want to do because they never get

old.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, further research on gene therapy that related to skin colour and skin aging

need to be done in order to develop more advanced and safe gene therapy for cosmetic purposes

as it will raise many social and ethical implications.

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