Argumentative Essay: The Progression Of Genetic Engineering

Science and technology are always pushing forward and leading us to new discoveries, dramatically altering life as we know it. One of the newest discoveries is the genetic enhancement of infants, also known as designer babies or germline enhancement. Scientists take the human embryo and enhance its genetic makeup to ensure a particular gene is present or to remove the gene altogether. The manipulation of the unborn child’s genes will pose unknown risks and will be done without their consent. The controversy of this deception will further destabilize society and its unity. The genetic enhancement of infants should be opposed because it is unethical and dangerous to civilians and society.

Humans desire perfection in everything, even if that means crossing the boundaries of natural life. A new looming untested technology, human genetic modification, raises questions as to whether it will advance human society or cause inconsistencies in the human genome. Essentially, this controversy will effect everyone since it is still

The advancement in technology has not only allowed people to test and diagnose diseases in human embryos, but technology has also given parents the ability to genetically modify their future kids. Parents may now ensure that no disease is carried on in future generations, correct inherited defects, enhance certain traits such as intelligence and athleticism, and choose eye color and gender(“Cho”). The process in which people alter human embryos is called genetic engineering, but the diagnosing of inherited defects and diseases is known as genetic screening(“Designer”). Through genetic engineering parents create the coined term “Designer Baby”. A designer baby is a baby whose embryo has been genetically altered. Many argue that genetic engineering is unethical, because some people may abuse the intended therapeutic use and create above average humans unfair to the rest of the population. The public, at large, also claim scientist should not “play God”, because they are interfering with biological processes and altering the natural course of human evolution. Many people believe only the rich may be able to afford genetic engineering; therefore, genetic engineering creates inequality. Some of the public distrusts genetic engineering, because it is in its earliest forms of development. Regardless, institutes and universities have proven the success of genetic modification; thus, showing the safety of genetically modifying a baby(“Screening”). Although some people and ethics may go against genetic engineering, genetic engineering increases human potential and quality of life. Regardless of ethics and disagreements on genetic engineering, it would be unethical to have a child with cystic fibrosis or Tay-Sachs disease, knowing it could have been prevented with genetic engineering. Genetic engineering may be the best route for humans to take for the betterment of life and human capability along with ensuring no disease is inherited and defects are fixed.

Despite the few supporters of “Designer Babies”, the notion of genetically enhanced children brings forward many ethical issues. A primary concern of this technology is its use for enhancement purposes. It would be impossible to prevent such use and would thus blur the objectives of gene technology from medical purposes, to the trait selection and enhancement of embryos. It has also been noted that the genetic modification of people mirrors the extremist views of Hitler, who sought to shape the German

Designer Babies Picture a young couple in a waiting room looking through a catalogue together. This catalogue is a little different from what you might expect. In this catalogue, specific traits for babies are being sold to couples to help them create the "perfect baby." This may seem like a bizarre scenario, but it may not be too far off in the future. Designing babies using genetic enhancement is an issue that is gaining more and more attention in the news. This controversial issue, once thought to be only possible in the realm of science-fiction, is causing people to discuss the moral issues surrounding genetic enhancement and germ line engineering. Though genetic research can prove beneficial to learning how to prevent hereditary

Nowadays, people will claim that the world is on the verge of scientific revolution that leads to the most controversial idea; genetic engineering of humans. When science technology grows exponentially faster than moral understanding, therein lies the argument between these two aspects. One can argue that genetic engineering is some sort of vast achievement in technology especially in this modern era whereby people live in full of access. However, if we look closely at the impact of this technology towards human beings, genetic engineering has many flaws and ramifications that can be debated thoroughly. Arguments and points of view are explained by Michael J. Sandel, the author of “The Case Against Perfection” and Nicholas Agar, the author of “Liberal Eugenics”.

Genetic Interventions and the Ethics of Enhancement of Human Beings The essay “Genetic Interventions and the Ethics of Enhancement of Human Beings”, by Julian Savulescu is a moral problems essay about genetically modifying human beings, specifically children, and not only does it support the arguement, it also gives objections, ethical theories related to genetic enhancement, and examples of what exactly it is and does. The main focus of the essay is about genetically modifying people to choose their appearance, intellectual capabilities, or to prevent diseases they may develop.

eugenicists and magnify inequality in a world that already struggles with extreme cases of social injustice. The marketing of such technologies is equally unconscionable, showing pictures of smiling babies next to genetics and IVF (in-vitro fertilization) labs. Suddenly, a need is being creating where no problem existed before, namely the desirability of a

whereas they do not have control over other countries governed laws. Allowing the United States to fall behind other countries technical and medical enhancements is not a wise decision. The United States would be taking a drastic step backwards by not saving lives, like this technology has done before(Farahany). Scientists

The term designer children is unnerving at first to many. The idea of parents designing the genetic makeup of their offspring makes children seem like a commodity in a genetic free market. Thoughts of a dystopian society like the one in the film “Gattaca” come to mind. However, taking an immediate repugnant stand against genetic enhancement is not well-founded. A more open-minded inspection of the issue reveals that the idea of parents improving their children’s life prospects through genetic engineering (provided it is safe) is, at its core, not unethical. In fact, some genetic enhancement in addition to correcting deleterious genes to prevent disease is a moral obligation. It is moral to make rational decisions using the science and

Adrian Calvache May 4, 2015 POL 270 Term Paper The birth of a child is supposed to be a time of joy, the uncertainty of life leads to this one point in time. Will she or he be the next president, a star athlete, a genius or just fall into the crowd as another

Genetic Engineering 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.

Although this may be the case in many areas of people’s lives today, it is not always beneficial, or necessary. People may have trouble deciding whether messing with human genes and cells is ethical. Designing the “perfect child” in many parent’s eyes becomes a harsh question of reality. The concept of a parent’s unconditional love for their child is questioned because of the desire to make their child perfect. If genetically engineering humans becomes a dominant medical option, people could have the chance to create their child however they like: from physical appearances, genetically enhanced genes, and the possibility to decide what a child thinks and acts, parents have access to designing their entire child. Naturally, people could be creating a super-human. Issues between different races, and eventually creating new prejudices against genetically engineered humans may increase. People may not realize how expensive genetic screening is at first. With only the rich being able to “enhance” their children, another social issue might occur, giving the world another type of people to outcast.

Abstract This paper explores scientists ' points of view about genetic engineering. Some of them are sure that it should not be controlled by law; others consider that genetic engineering has crossed the line and as a result should be limited. Nobody doubts that with the help of genetic engineering we

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.