The Irish Potato Famine was a devastating historical event. The island of Ireland was not prepared for such widespread hunger and disease. This event, though, is not isolated in the past. It causes us to consider the technology we have today that can prevent such a famine from happening again. But this technology must be carefully examined in a moral light.

The potato was an incredibly important crop to the Irish in the 1800s. It was a dietary staple of the Irish people. It was eaten for every meal. Unfortunately, only a few types were grown in Ireland at the time.

Societal and political factors played a role in setting the stage for the famine. The reason why Ireland was so dependent on the potato was because they were forced to export many of their other crops to England. This left almost exclusively the potato as the main food supply in Ireland. Also, the Irish were already living in poor living conditions prior to the famine, which eventually led to the associated diseases.

There were several biotic and abiotic factors that led to the potato blight. The blight, itself, is caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans. The HERB-1 strain of P. infestans was thought to be the cause of the Irish Potato Famine. This strain was thought to most likely come to Europe from North America by ship. In addition, weather had a great deal to do with causing the blight. P. infestans needs warm temperatures with some rain, and Ireland had these conditions in 1845. The summer before the blight came to Ireland was recorded as having good weather with one week of cold rains. These were the exact conditions P. infestans needed to flourish.

The Irish Potato Famine had many devastating effects. In the first year of the blight, around one third to one half of the land planted with potatoes was affected. The following year in 1846, around 75% of potatoes were destroyed by the blight. Because the Irish depended so heavily on these potatoes, several negative consequences followed with the blight. There was mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 until 1852. Due to the lack of food and increasingly poor conditions, diseases outbreaks resulted. Some of these diseases included measles, tuberculosis, whooping cough, various parasites, and cholera. An estimated one million people died. An additional million immigrated to North America between 1846 an 1851. These immigrants brought diseases with them from Ireland and infected the ships on which they traveled and the tenements in which they settled. Overall, Ireland’s population dropped around 20% to 25% and recovered very slowly.

Diseases, such as the blight which caused the Irish Potato Famine, have inspired numerous biological technologies aimed at altering the genetic makeup of organisms to help prevent disease. One of those technologies is CRISPR. There are numerous benefits to being able to alter genomes through CRISPR. First, organisms can be made to resists different disease. As an example, scientists have made a strain of potato that can resist potato blight.

Also, plants and animals we eat as food can be altered to produce more of that food. There are strains of apples that are larger and more juicy than non-modified apples. The genetic makeup of chickens can be altered so that they have more muscle mass. There are many examples of how genetic modification has led to increased amounts of food.

Gene editing can also be used to exterminate different diseases. Recently, scientists have modified the genome of mosquitoes to cause their offspring to become infertile, which will stop the spread of malaria.

Along with theses benefits, there are also numerous risks. Most of these risks are unknown. Genetic modification has not been around long enough to observe any long-term effects. To use the genetically modified mosquitoes as an example, many scientists are wary of the risks of taking mosquitoes out of the ecosystem. They are afraid there are far reaching effects that we cannot see now.
This technology also has the opportunity to fall into the wrong hands. Though this technology can be used for much good, it can also be used for bad; it can become weaponized. With it, scientists can create super-diseases that cannot be cured with treatments we have now.

Using this technology, ultimately, sets a dangerous precedent. If gene editing can be proven effective and safe, should it be used on humans? Designer babies are already under ethical debate as this new technology is being increasingly used.

The Irish Potato Famine has had lasting historical affects. It is a painful reminder of our susceptibility to disease in ourselves and our food sources. Steps have been taken to create technology that can permanently change the genetic makeup of organisms that can eradicate diseases. However, we must tread carefully, as this technology can be used for as much bad as it can be used for good.

Help Received: Irish Potato Famine PPT on Canvas, “The Great Famine” Part Three: A Mass of Rottenness on Canvas, “The Great Famine” Part Four: The Epidemic on Canvas, https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/02/20/693735499/scientists-release-controversial-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-in-high-securit, https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/09/24/650501045/mosquitoes-genetically-modified-to-crash-species-that-spreads-malaria, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_(Ireland)#/media/File:Skibbereen_by_James_Mahony,_1847.JPG for Image 1, http://www.beaumonthospitalschool.ie/2015/10/23/the-legacy-of-the-irish-potato-famine/ for Image 2, Spellcheck