Could you edit your DNA to look hotter?

In the future, could the beauty industry edit your DNA to improve your looks?

Radio 1's Dev delves into his genome to find out how he could tweak his genes as easily as taking a selfie.

Constantly seeing others' pictures – and sharing what we look like – feeds into our search for perfection. The beauty industry in the UK is worth £9 billion. Male cosmetic surgery surged last year – up more than 40% – and the numbers for women were up too as people try to achieve their ideal look. Is gene editing the next step?

The gene editing technology CRISPR is allowing researchers to accurately and successfully target specific genes in genomes, and remove or replace them. Focusing on the possibilities of eradicating life-limiting diseases like Cystic Fibrosis, trials will begin in human genomes this year.

But just as cosmetic surgery started out as a medical treatment, how long will it be before gene editing is used cosmetically, to change how we look? What if, as well as tweaking how we look on the surface, gene editing means we end up making more fundamental changes to our bodies?

[calliejoncas]

My not so hot looks have held me back in so many areas of my life that this would be the boost that would make me truly comfortable and happier with myself, and more people would treat me the way I deserve to be treated. As much as I try my best to be hard working and friendly, many people still don't see past my looks unfortunately, It's a struggle at times. I really hope this becomes a thing and people aren't judged for it.

[behrensleo]

I think everyone who wants should edit themselves - when it becomes a reality. Think about the freedom people would feel, being able to truly be who they want to be. No limits, and the power of being full creative control over yourself. When people can become who they want, I believe there will be less focus on their appearance. Our value systems will change, and also our social and collective structure. We need to find other ways to determine beauty. Because being beautiful won't be that valuable anymore. We will be looking for beauty within instead.

Some people may say it's not ethical to mess with our DNA, but if that's the case - we should all go back to being cavemen. Because there is nothing "ethical" by how we live today based on that perspective! How we live today would have been punished 200 years ago.. or even just 100 years ago. A lot of us would be burned. Gene editing is a part of evolution, it is inevitable. We will get there, it's just a matter of time!

[kingdrew]

I wish Dna editing was already here so i could redo everything about me.

[thunderbuddy]

If you could do it the Kardashians would have already done it.

[sahinyasar]

Speak for yourself. This is more natural than having make-up or botox

[fburnsDubstepEnderFox]

I'd finally be able to love myself cause then I wouldn't have to be ugly.

[donamameng]

short answer is yes
slightly less short is this is already being done through selective breeding, and its more likely done from birth up rather than when youre already 30

[tadficuscactus]

There is a gene that determines how hot you are from 1-10. You can just alter it with crispr to decide what rating you want to be.

[ayushtank_]

99.99% genome of all human beings on earth is the same!! The difference in looks, heights and any other feature lies in remaining 0.01%. There is important role of epigenetics too. As of crisper cas9 it is not so accurate to edit human gene 🧬. Speaking of structure of a gene human gene contains 320 crore base pairs, after every 1000 pair is a different gene. Basically we need to edit that small amount to bring out change in looks or eye colour etc. Lets take MC1R gene mainly responsible for pigmentation, it lies in 6th chromosome. It is yet hard to change things on that micro level with accuracy. Yet this technology is amazing. We will surely see development of new accurate tech that will edit gene at highly precise scale.

[jimj]

I want to edit my genes to become taller and better looking.

[SuperEmilyW]

As soon as I saw the green mice I thought to myself 'comment section will be going down!'. I was right. Interesting vid though.

[chanchaljain]

This is the great achieveme in the field of technology 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[ChrisMinusHumour]

So the simple answer to this question is No. Editing genes is done in embryo and we do not know of specific genes to make you "hotter" so how could we edit them. Just ridiculous click bait. BBC radio should probably just not get involved in discussing DNA and gene editing. Stick to music i guess.

[louiseabayan]

It would be amazing if the Crispr will operate not just for diseases but also for aesthetic purposes. I would pay to change some of my features and to also edit my germline to pass my desirable traits to my offspring. It would be life-changing for me as I am always deem as average looking from a family of attractive people. I just didn’t hit the genetic lottery. Please tag me when there is a company that offers you this🥺🤍

[accel_]

perhaps if you can edit genes you could look young forever~

[jizzyt]

Can eggplant size be changed by CRISPR?

[ZoraktheStar]

anyone knows who the black girl at the start is? she is so cute i wanna look like her

[SpencerOilChangeLOL]

selective breeding is evolution sped up, CRISPR is just us intelligent entities taking intelligent control of a process mostly left up to chance in the past.
Skin color and eye color are trivial cosmetics compared to what it means for morphology, facial structure (form follows function) hormonal balance, the immune system, genetic diseases etcccc

[seriouspugicorn]

I’m not 100% with how I look. I have a chubby face and short natural blonde hair. I’m naturally skinny and I don’t gain weight. I would NEVER undergo plastic surgery!!

[sudipaich]

Can gene editing fix my genetic hyperpigmentation in future is it possible in future ?