Choosing Our Genes By Gregory Stock

Although this prevention of disease is theoretically possible, public fears and apprehensions have prevented this science from being applicable to humans thus far. With all is known about genes and DNA, the science of genetic engineering has few limitations except moral and ethical codes. The great effects that this new technology has to offer far outweighs the minute possibility that implications could arise. Under restrictions, the availability of genetic modification should be available to allow parents the choice for the prevention of suffering for their child.

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”.

With the world of technology making advances so quickly we sometimes forget our own limits as a mortal species. Genetic therapy has the potential to save millions of people from genetic mutations and protein deficiencies. This paper will go on to argue that the Utilitarianism approach in ethics shows all the right things about genetic therapy. The first-time gene therapy was used on a patient dates back in the 1990s when a four-year-old girl had adenosine deaminase deficiency. With this disease, her white blood cells were not doing their job and left her prone to infections. Through the power of genetic therapy some of her white blood cells were extracted, altered to produce adenosine deaminase, and reinjected. This treatment not only saved her life from dangerous diseases but also began a world of opportunities in the medical field. The ethical issue is, is it right or wrong to have that much power to alter genes and to what degree you should be able to modify them. Should people live out their futures the ways they are born or should they live life to the fullest and get the genetic treatments?

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 citizen. With recent advancements in science, this uncertainty has become a thing of the past. The human being is now seen as a commodity and no more is valued in the uncertainty of individuality. The parent can now choose how they want their child to come out or develop into. Sandel’s book The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Case of Modern Eugenics is a well researched look into examples of modern eugenics and the problems that arise from it. These topics range from the ethics of cloning, athletes using performance enhancing drugs, and other practical uses in everyday life. Sandel’s argument is that there is value in human nature (even with all its flaws), and genetic engineering will forever change human nature. Destroying the very essence of what it is to be human and scarring humanity. The main features of human nature that will be altered: are responsibility, humility and solidarity.

Eugenics is a topic that puzzled people’s consciousness for decades. Placing worth on a human, an idea that many people find unsettling yet confirms beneficial by evolving our race into an improved species. Today, eugenics appears on a new face with emerging technologies, creating possibilities for scientists to modify people’s DNA. The goal of these methods lies in creating an advanced form of eugenics, with probabilities like modifications to fix health problems and wanted traits, and to create designer babies. Furthermore, scientists started testing this idea of genetic modification, but ended up with mixed results. In a few cases, they accomplished their goal, but others concluded in unexpected problems. Thus, the recent technologies relating

The progression of genetic engineering is inevitable due to its ability to prevent genetic diseases, but with its progression there are ethical concerns that coincides with its development. One such concern will be the enhancement of human traits, as people argue that it violates the right of a baby, as well as “playing god”, and will lead to a eugenic society. However, these argument only provide some truth, as they reflect genetic engineering in a bad light. In the case of violating the baby’s right, genetic enhancement could improve the baby’s success in life and provide some equality in the unfair genetic lottery, but people find it to be in violation of the baby’s right because it is done without the consent of the unborn child. This in

Imagine a world where wheel chairs do not exist or the illnesses that cause the mandatory use of wheel chairs are wiped out. The advancement in science that is being used to explore the possibilities to prevent or cure human disease is called gene therapy. The purpose of gene therapy is to remove or reverse the mutation of the cells in an embryo or a child, thus eliminating the disease from the child and the existence of the disease. With this advancement in science, children who are diagnosed with an inherited death sentence or an illness that will cause suffering within their life span are given a second chance. The support of gene therapy would give hope to parents who suffer from the horrifying decision of “pulling the plug” on their young children who suffer from inherited illnesses. In addition, instead of allowing ourselves to endure the guilty conscious of knowing our children have a high chance of contracting a genetic illness, it’s time for legislation around the world to fund the eradication of illnesses from embryos. Critics claim that the future of gene therapy will result in unborn children being treated as products when the parent imposes on their children’s natural life skills and physical features (“Human Enhancement: The New Eugenics.”). Also, ethicists worry that the process of successfully tinkering with an embryo opens doors to strive for perfect humans. Although there is the potential for the reemergence of eugenics and the creation of “designer

Bostrom argues that society can adapt to see the worth in modified, “posthuman” people, allotting them dignity and rights as humans even though they are modified (Bostrom 3). Sade looks at genetic modification through a much more practical lens, observing real, immediate benefits and drawbacks of genetic modification rather than overarching philosophy. There are undoubtedly many dangers and problems that will arise from mainstream genetic modification, some that may even shake the foundation of the society and culture of today. However, countless benefits come with gene therapy as well. Concrete improvements to the human race, from increased intelligence, athleticism, and height, to immunization from major diseases to perhaps eventually immortality. These benefits largely outweigh the ethical drawbacks that society will surely adapt to as the years go on. Many groundbreaking technologies have changed the structure of society in the past, like the cotton gin, assembly line, and internet. Each time, humans have successfully adapted to take full advantage of the benefits while manage the dangers and drawbacks, concrete and cultural. Whether people like it or not, mainstream genetic modification is inevitable as technology keeps increasing, and society should find solutions to manage it rather than cower from it. The future is coming, and humans should be ready for the

Because gene therapy involves changing the human body, it comes with its set of ethical concerns, which are not answered fully nor so rapidly. Until such scientific and technological advancements, people dealt with their genetic inequality (if faced with one) as their reality, as part of their life until they died. But with the advent of gene therapy, people may have a choice to deal with their genetic inequalities, even though it may not threaten their health or way of life. Dealing with genetic inequalities that are not dangerous to a person’s health follows a eugenic aura. It questions the normality of a person and categorizes genetic inequalities as disabilities. Also, it treats the latter as diseases needed to be cured and/or prevented.

"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

With the advancement of technology, many things are at the fingertips of the world and especially scientists. With new technology, new moral questions and ethical dilemmas are asked and new conundrums are found. A recent technological advancement, human gene therapy, is making the world ask these questions. Human gene therapy is replacing a specific gene that is unhealthy or could cause problems with a healthy gene and also uses genetic engineering methods to change defective DNA sequencing inside individual cells (National Library of Medicine [NLM], 2015). This is a current technology that must be explained to the public because it can be used today to change people’s genes. This is a major breakthrough

Science is often seen as a controversial subject in society, as scientists seek to rationalize, understand, and evaluate that which is unknown. This quest for knowledge frequently clashes with societal values and ethical standards, and one important subject for debate is human genetic engineering (henceforth called HGE). HGE has numerous applications, such as manufacturing replacement organs using stem cells or eliminating genetic disorders, though one application in particular has been a subject of controversy for quite some time: genetic enhancement, whether it be prenatal or postnatal. Genetic enhancement is the process of improving an individual’s genes to artificially grant them above average capabilities, such as heightened intellect and improved physical prowess. However, this technology has inherent ethical and socioeconomic dilemmas that can be easily abused. In a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center regarding prenatal genetic enhancement, about 68% of adults polled are either “somewhat” or “very” concerned about gene editing for babies, while 49% of adults were “less acceptable” of germline editing that “changes the genetic makeup of the whole population” (Funk et al.). Though the general population isn’t as learned about this topic as many scientists are, that doesn’t make their opinion any less relevant to the issue. However, professional opinions are important as well. During an international summit on human gene editing, Dr. Marcy Darnovsky of the Center

Modern technology has changed rapidly over the years, and one of the most life-changing innovations is genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material. It is a set of biotechnologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes, to produce improved organisms. Genetic engineering techniques have been applied to numerous fields including research, agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and medicine. Genetic engineering can be used for many manipulations in one's genes. Particularly, it may be used for changing the sequence of genes so that if a person's DNA has a gene for a certain disease it may be removed and prevented through genetic engineering. Another use may be the manipulation of genes by inserting into a child favorable traits, which are picked out by the parent before the kid is born, through genetic engineering. Therefore, Genetic engineering should be limited to altering genes that cause diseases. It should not be used to alter genes to make the “perfect” baby.  It should not be used to give favorable traits to a baby because this is immoral, and affects biodiversity by limiting genetic diversity, over a period of time.  And most significantly the repercussions of genetic engineering are still unknown. Leon Kass poses the question,” What standards will guide the genetic engineers?” (Kass, paragraph 32). This is a question we should be

Genetic engineering has the ability to discover information about family histories and their genes. This ability has brought up the concern of privacy. The expectation for genetic engineering is to find cures and treatments for genetic diseases. Scientist are learning new ways to confront the impacts these discoveries have on society. After the clone of the first mammal, a sheep, concerns had arisen that humans were going to be next. An abundance of questions regarding the ethics of the situation soon emerged. The ethical questions emerging are thought to be arising because genetic engineering is still new to science and is not completely safe and productive.

Our century is rich in the greatest discoveries in all fields of science and technology that had changed the quality of our lives. Perhaps one of the main branches of knowledge that will shape the world in the XXI century is genetics. That relatively young science has always been associated with lots of controversies and debates. That is, in my opinion, correlates with the course themes of Ideology and Inquiry, and secondly Origins and Politics of human rights. However, recent progression in genetics and genetic engineering have made it possible to change the very nature of the mankind, thus uprising many questions of ethical and philosophical nature. Personally speaking, in choosing the topic for the essay I were mainly interested