Argumentative Essay: Ethical Development Of Human Genetic Engineering

DNA are like legos, they work together to build the traits of living things. They are the building blocks of the body. Many scientists today have been figuring out different ways to manipulate, change, add, and subtract genes from the DNA in living things; this is process is called genetic engineering. Some of the living things being experimented on are live people, plants, and animals. Today scientists are debating on the morals of genetic engineering due to what the community thinks of it, because of the christian 's viewpoint of genetic engineering. To some christians it may pose a threat to their, but to others it may be a blessing or a gift. Genetic Engineering is a growing breakthrough in the science community. “Over the last 30 years, the field of genetic engineering has developed rapidly due to the greater understanding of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as the chemical double helix code from which genes are made. The term genetic engineering is used to describe the process by which the genetic makeup of an organism can be altered using “recombinant DNA technology.” This involves the use of laboratory tools to insert, alter, or cut out pieces of DNA that contain one or more genes of interest.”(Pocket K No. 17) Scientist have yet to unlock the full potential of genetic engineering, but the information and the use they have found for it today has reached farther than anyone 's expectations.

Engineering, edited by David M. Haugen and Susan Musser, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010138265/OVIC?u=j170902014&xid=541f199b. Accessed 24 Feb. 2017. Originally published as "The Threat of Human Genetic Engineering," www.hgalert.org/topics/hge/threat.htm.

It is incredible to see how far genetic engineering has come. Humans, plants, and any living organism can now be manipulated. Scientists have found ways to change humans before they are even born. They can remove, add, or alter genes in the human genome. Making things possible that humans (even thirty years ago) would have never imagined. Richard Hayes claims in SuperSize Your Child? that genetic engineering needs to have limitations. That genetic engineering should be used for medical purposes, but not for “genetic modification that could open the door to high-tech eugenic engineering” (188). There is no doubt that genetic engineering can amount to great things, but without limits it could lead the human race into a future that no one

The technological and scientific advancements that have been introduced into the genetics movement have allowed scientists and researchers to obtain the opportunity to edit human genes. With high rates of efficiency, geneticists can now genetically alter the genes of animals, insects, vegetables and last but not least, humans. Genetically modified organisms or GMO for short, is a term that is used in our society to label and identify foods that have been created and genetically modified by scientists. Foods that are genetically modified are not something that surprises or astonishes the American people when discovering that GMO product. However, the idea of the presence of genetically modified human beings is something that will definitely trigger the awareness of a vast amount people everywhere the world. The access to genetically engineer and alter human genes for the purpose of improving or strengthening their genetic makeup should not be allowed to do. An international ban on human genetic engineering must be enacted.

Determining if genetic engineering is morally good is only half the battle with this ethical issue. Regardless of whether morally good reasons are used to justify it, genetic engineering is an attempt to use human intelligence in order to try to overthrow God’s original creation or plan for humans. Scientist are trying to perfect his creation or change it. God has laid out the way things should happen naturally and humans are attempting to overthrow it. A key word to note is “attempt” because Scotus would see genetic engineering as a failed attempt at playing God because he believes that God is all powerful and it would be impossible for a human to possess that same type of power. In the article “Freedom Beyond Practice Reason: Duns Scotus on Will- Dependent Relations” the author Tobias Hoffmann discusses freedom of will according to Scotus. Hoffmann explains that, “for Scotus, the will is free to will any good either for its own sake alone… or for the sake of something else.” (Hoffmann 1077). God gave humans the freedom of will which allows individuals to live a life they choice. This means an individual could choice a life of virtue or a life of sin and God would not intentionally interfere in their life and force that individual to choose God’s preferred path of righteousness. God has given humans a choice, and permits them to do what they want with their own lives. Likewise, God has given humans intelligence and what humans do with their intelligence is also up to them

The famous science fiction writer Isaac Asimov once stated ”Science is dangerous. There is no question but that poison gas, genetic engineering, and nuclear weapons and power stations are terrifying. It may be that civilization is falling apart and the world we know is coming to an end.” This quote sums up my stance on genetic engineering perfectly. Our society should not pursue genetic engineering in humans because of the risk, possibility for discrimination, and ethical problems associated with modifying human genes.

Genetic Engineering has been hailed as one of the greatest scientific developments of the 21st century. The argument above is one of many, posed to ask human beings to think about whether or not genetic engineering is morally and ethically right. By modifying genes and DNA or by introducing new genes into an embryo, organisms are given new, often beneficial,

Genetic engineering has become increasingly normalized in today’s society, and people are exposed to this technology now more than ever before. Most people are aware that food companies practice genetic engineering on their plants in order to design the most profitable crops, but it isn’t generally known that this same technology can be applied to humans. The concept of picking certain traits and characteristics of a human may appear desirable, but many risks and potential side effects may follow considering that it is unknown what genetic engineering could affect in future generations. Francis Fukuyama, an accomplished and distinguished professor of political economy and philosopher, conveys his concern that genetic engineering is developing at a surprisingly rapid rate. Within his book, Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution, he claims that genetic engineering not only will potentially be detrimental for the human race, but due to the change in nature of human beings, such engineering will also result in significantly impacting government and politics. Although genetic engineering can be seen as a huge technological advancement that could potentially help millions, there are drastic negative effects and reasons for disapproving genetic engineering that are too important to be overlooked.

Human genetic engineering is an implementation of gene therapy methods that has helped treat medical conditions that originate at our genes. Are our future peers more capable of being programmed? If so, should we be depending on the manipulation of appointed experts to conduct such modifications? Our race of mammalian beings has become solely dependent upon the advancement of capabilities sourced from physical attributes, mental development, and structural manipulation resulting from previously mentioned. According to scientists around the world, our genetic make up as naturally evolved and sustained important order within the majority. Aside from nature's destructive capabilities, we have endured using our genetic make up to survive the conditions

"When they are finally attempted…genetic manipulations will…be done to change a death sentence into a life verdict." In agreeing with this quote by James D. Watson, director of the Human Genome Project, I affirm today’s resolution, "Human genetic engineering is morally justified." I will now present a few definitions. Human genetic engineering is the altering, removal, or addition of genes through genetic processes. Moral is "pertaining to right conduct; ethical." Justified is to be "proper; well-deserved." Therefore, something that is morally justified is ethically beneficial. My value today will be cost-benefit justice. When we examine the benefits that human genetic

Imagine a world where there are no genetic diseases. You can go your entire life without ever knowing a person who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Every child born in this world could grow up without fear of suffering from Alzheimer’s later in life. It sounds incredible, and most would agree that this would be a delightful advancement in technology. However, imagine another world where the possibilities for genetic changes within a newborn child were endless. Swap out those boring brown eyes for bright violet ones. Your child will now grow up to be six feet tall, flawless skin and a full head of blonde hair; just like every other child. Genetic uniqueness becomes an ancient ideology, and to forego these changes would be deemed as morally and

The process of genetic engineering employs viral vectors that carry functional genes inside the human body. No previous research has proven where the functional genes are being placed in the body, running the risk that the important genes would be replaced instead of mutated genes. Therefore this may lead to another health condition or disease to humans that is yet unknown. Also, as defective genes are replaced with a functional gene, then it is expected that there will be a reduction in genetic diversity. By replacing naturally occurring genes, human beings will begin to have identical genomes. If this occurs, then population as a whole will be more susceptible to viruses or any form of diseases because mutations in the genome will be reduced. Genetic engineering could also create unknown side effects that could ultimately be more harmful than helpful. Certain changes in a plant or animal could cause unpredicted allergic reactions in some people which, in its original form, did not occur. Other changes could result into the toxicity of an organism to humans or other organisms. Additionally, "Playing God" has become a prominent argument against genetic engineering. Several issues have also been raised in regards to the acceptance of this technology. As more human genes are utilized in non-human organisms to create new forms of life, they are genetically becoming part human. Therefore, new ethical questions are arising. For instance, the percentage of human genes an organism must have to contain before it can be considered human is questioned. Human genes are now being spliced into the genes of tomatoes and peppers to make them grow faster. It can be asked, how many human genes would a green pepper have to contain before it can be eaten without raising a moral issue? People are now suggesting that one can now be a vegetarian and a cannibal at the same time. For carnivores, the same question could

The opponents of genetically modified plants and also animals worry that not enough is still to be determined that such food is completely safe for human consumption. They warn that, through cross-pollution and crossbreeding, genetically modified foods can alter existing organisms is unknown ways. Opponents also question that aeration that genetically modified foods will not help human classifications and they will damage them. "Recent date has shown that the genetically engineered crops has not hurt the yields.

One of the biggest pictures that are against genetic engineering is that humans are not supposed to play the role of God. DNA is a unique thing to every person. Bioengineering itself involves the very technical aspects of modification, and the enhancement of stem cells or DNA and this process can change the human structure. “The progress of civilization has been having been largely dependent upon the out ‘interference with nature’.”(Encyclopedia of Applied Plant Sciences).

Why live a life with average abilities when we can enhance our abilities through genetic engineering on our DNA for the greater good? Genetic engineering is “the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an organism or population of organisms.” It is not exactly a science in a broad sense, but a branch of biotechnology, which uses methods of molecular and biology, virology, and genetics. Genetic engineering on the human genome should be approved because it has the potential to make lives and the world better. Genetic disorders could be permanently eliminated, certain genes could be reactivated for regrowth of necessary cells, eliminating many neurological disorders, and delaying ageing, which would expand scientific research in order to many world complications.