When you hear the term “playing God” does it make you think of science? I will wager yes and that you connect the two even more after watching the docuseries “Unnatural Selection” on Netflix.
I watched it for the purposes of this blog, but quickly became engrossed in the subject matter. While the filmmakers have squeezed a lot of storylines into the four, hour-long episodes, I found it interesting, educational and very thought-provoking.
“Unnatural Selection” makes no bones about the fact it is entertainment, with an opening disclaimer that advises viewers to consult with their doctor before beginning any treatments. But it also states that its goal is to “inform” and with so much information packed into the series, I think that’s achieved.
The program explores CRISPR, gene therapy, genetic engineering, gene drive technology and reproductive techniques. The series introduces complicated ethical issues, such as whether it is acceptable to eradicate an out-of-control rat population in New Zealand to save endangered birds and should gene drive technology be introduced into mosquitoes to eliminate malaria?
Rats are destroying native bird species on the islands that comprise New Zealand and malaria kills one child every two minutes, according to the World Health Organization. Easy decisions? Is it okay to play God and “mess” with Mother Nature by choosing one species over another? Maybe not if scientists can’t predict the long-term effects of these decisions or you are of the opinion that these technologies could be used for bioterrorism or other nefarious purposes. We see scientists, doctors, engineers, environmentalists, conservationists, politicians and citizens grappling with these issues (and others), and debating how this tampering could impact the environment, local ecosystems and the germ line.
On the human front we follow Jackson Kennedy who could regain his eyesight following surgery with Luxturna, Nicholas Piazza who has spinal muscular atrophy and wants access to the very expensive drug Spinraza and Tristan Roberts who is willing to experiment on himself to treat his HIV. You’ll have to watch to learn how these real people fare. While their situations are unfolding, we also hear different perspectives on the pricing of gene therapies from the CEO of Spark Therapeutics and a patient advocate, and we see footage of people around the world who are protesting to make gene therapies available to those who desperately need them. If cures exist, shouldn’t everyone have access?
Pricing and the value of a life are mentioned frequently in “Unnatural Selection,” just as they are, along with the topic of reimbursement, when industry meets. This Harvard Business Review article helps explain the factors to consider in the U.S.
Biohacking also plays a leading role in this series. We attend a few biohacking conferences and also meet the community’s leaders and followers. There is Roberts who is being a human guinea pig with an untested therapy; Aaron Traywick, CEO of Ascendance Biomedical, who provides Roberts with the treatment (Traywick is now deceased); David Ishee, a self-taught biohacker who wants to genetically engineer the dogs he breeds; and, ex NASA scientist Josiah Zayner who is passionate about wanting to democratize gene therapy and make it available to anybody. We see a lot of him in the episodes, including on a panel that takes place at the University of Toronto.
Not only does the fourth episode take us to Toronto to hear from Dr. Zayner, evolutionary engineer Dr. Kevin Esvelt (the gene drive scientist who we see having a moral struggle with his work) and an unidentified woman (I may have missed her name?) who makes up the third scientist on the panel, but Signals blogger Dr. Samantha Yammine moderates the panel! (I had no idea and was surprised to suddenly see her on screen. Sam is the busiest science communicator I know!)
I haven’t even mentioned the three-parent baby storyline and I’m going to let you discover it on your own. By now, you are either curious or you’re not. I’m certainly not a movie critic, but I think this series is worth watching. It will leave you with lots to contemplate, including whether scientists should keep pushing the bounds of discovery to the point where they can change evolution and play God.
Stacey Johnson
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