“With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code.”
- January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018
- British
- Theoretical physicist, science writer
- Announced the black hole singularity theorem and Hawking radiation, and contributed to the popularization of science with his book “Talking about the Universe”
Quote
“With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code.”
Explanation
In this quote, Stephen Hawking reflects on the potential of genetic engineering to significantly alter the future of humanity by modifying the human genome to improve health, intelligence, or other characteristics. Hawking’s mention of increasing the “complexity” of DNA suggests that, through gene editing technologies like CRISPR, scientists could potentially enhance human traits or eliminate genetic diseases. This idea, while still in its early stages, points to the revolutionary impact that genetics and biotechnology could have on the future of human evolution and even the advancement of the human race.
However, Hawking also emphasizes that such genetic improvements would not happen overnight. The process of genetic modification, even if successful, would take decades to show tangible effects because changes to the human genome would only be passed down to future generations. As Hawking notes, it would take roughly 18 years—the time it takes for a human to reach adulthood—for the effects of these genetic changes to be observed. This slow timeline highlights the challenges of implementing genetic changes on a large scale and the ethical and practical considerations of modifying the human genome. It also underscores the complexity of biological systems and the fact that the consequences of genetic alterations are difficult to predict, especially when it comes to long-term effects.
Hawking’s words tap into broader ethical debates surrounding genetic engineering and designer babies, which have become increasingly relevant with advances in biotechnology. While the potential to eliminate hereditary diseases and increase human capabilities is promising, the implications of such technologies raise questions about equality, genetic diversity, and the moral boundaries of scientific intervention. In modern discussions, these concerns continue to fuel debates about whether and how genetic engineering should be regulated, particularly when it comes to enhancing human traits beyond simply preventing disease. The pace of these advancements, combined with the time it takes to see the full effects, means that future generations will have to grapple with the benefits and risks of genetic manipulation, shaping the future trajectory of human evolution.
