Dna Knowledge And Its Effects On The Human Of Individuals And Their Families

Eugenics essentially began as a good thing. Early genicists had the intention of improving the quality of the human population by selecting desired traits. Because of the limited knowledge available in the early nineteen-hundreds this approach to changing the gene pool seemed reasonable. The researchers believe that by controlling human “reproductive” conditions like mental retardation psychiatric illness and physical illness / disabilities could be destroyed. The scientific data to prove these statements would never surface.

Gregory Stock, in his article Choosing Our Genes, asserts that at this point not ethics are important, but rather the future of genetic technology. Stock supports his conclusion by providing powerful examples of how genetic modifications can benefit our population anywhere from correcting genes at the time of conception to extending lifespan. He wants to inform his audience about all of the benefits of genetic technology in order to prove that there are way more advantages in this technology that are highly desirable by people of different ages. He reaches his readers by writing a very detailed yet coherent article that brings awareness to various groups of people from parents to be to older populations.

I support the guidelines outlined by Kitcher for the use of genetic information because of their responsible and ethical nature. I believe that future generations will benefit as a direct consequence of these guidelines. I shall begin by defining eugenics as the study of human genetics to improve inherited characteristics of the human race by the means of controlled selective breeding.

Eugenics is defined, in some way or the other, as the process of reshaping the human race by determining the kinds of people who will be born. As such, there is much debate in the field of eugenics, with authors, like Philip Kitcher, who support laissez-faire or a minimalist approach of eugenics in which eugenic decision-making should be limited only to avoid neurological illnesses and in which parental free choice is valued. Gregory Stock’s essay, The Enhanced and Un-Enhanced, presents otherwise by supporting the position of maximalist eugenics, allowing individuals the full extent in the selection of genes. On the other hand, the film, Gattaca, raises major ethical problems by illustrating a dystopian society resulted by extensive

Future eugenicists can extort their knowledge and use it to their advantage. Eugenics is an interesting subject that is co-dependent on society; the future holds great possibilities for acknowledgment in this field of science.

The study or practice of attempting to ‘improve’ the human gene pool by encouraging the reproduction of people considered to have desirable traits and discouraging or preventing the reproduction of people considered to have undesirable traits; Eugenics.

In the Name of Eugenics by Daniel J. Kevles explores the history of the eugenics movement and several of the most influential eugenicists who impacted the field. The book focuses on the earliest years of the movement when it was used primarily as a way to try and determine who was and was not fit to marry and reproduce, as well as the later years of the movement where it was used to help understand and diagnose various medical problems passed down from parents to their children. Eugenics was primarily used as a way to classify different segments of society and was often used as an excuse to infringe upon the rights of different groups of people who did not fit the societal standard. The first eugenicist Kevles mentions is Francis Galton.

In the 19th century progressive era the idea of eugenics began to take form and became a widely-spread political, scientific, and social movement. Throughout history there have been numerous political leaders and scientist who have sought to alter the human race to design a purer society. The thoughts of purifying humans can be mostly commonly associated with the Holocaust which was one of the lowest points in the history of civilization. Similarly, in ideas The Eugenics Movement focused on mitigating undesirable traits from generation to generation. The idea that improvement of human kind like breeding can’t be left up to nature, but with the use of the eugenics program it would better society. By sterilizing the mentally ill and feeble minded, eugenicists goals were to better public health, restrict immigration, and regulate reproduction. In these efforts, the movement sought to isolate the pure American genes and save them from being tainted by bad genes.

The preceding difficulties experienced when attempting to regulate eugenics and properly enforce its practices calls into question if eugenics can in fact be effectively outlined in law. It is the purpose of this essay to argue that eugenics should be inducted into legislation in order to regulate experimental research so as to encourage learning about the human genome and to protect participants. Due to eugenics’ sordid past that is rooted in discriminatory practices, it has the potential to impede the development and wellness of humankind rather than promote it, therefore there needs to be precautionary laws put in place to minimize the risks as much as

During World War II the idea of creating a “master race” was a large goal that was in the minds of the Nazi’s, but this fact is quite common knowledge to many. Whether people know the idea through knowledge of Hitler’s reign committing genocide during the Holocaust, or by knowing his want for blonde hair and blue-eyed citizens. While many know these facts and beliefs, there are still the individuals whom do not know the name behind this social movement, or part of the history and current practices of this movement. This movement is called eugenics, which is practiced through the ideas to remove the undesirable genes and traits of people, but keep what are considered to be desired to breed a better human race. Historically, the process was done by having individuals with the more wanted traits breed and having people with unwanted traits not. However, overtime this has changed, as the views toward the past movement have changed to see it in a negative way. Now, the movement has changed in the form that the process of using technology to decide and understand what genes parents have and if they will be passed down to their children. In short, eugenics is the social movement to improve the genes of humans historically done through breeding, and today considered to be practiced through altering genetics technologically.

Eugenics is very controversial. It is important to be informed on the subject to avoid making rash and hasty decisions on whether or not it is right or wrong. It is up to each individual to gain the knowledge necessary to determine the moral correctness or incorrectness of any topic. Often decisions are made without information to back them up. You must understand the term before understanding the action. In this way, we must understand eugenics in a general sense and in detail. We must start with defining the term eugenics.

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.

New technological advances and scientific methods continue to change the course of nature. One of the current controversial advances in science and technology is the use of genetically modified embryos in which the study exceeds stem cell research. Scientists have begun planning for research involving human embryos in the genetic modification field. Many technological developments are responsible for improving our living standards and even saving lives, but often such accomplishments have troubling cultural and moral ramifications (Reagan, 2015). We are already beyond the days in which virtually the only procreative option was for a man and a woman to conceive the old-fashioned way (Reagan, 2015). Genetic modification of human embryos can be perceived as a positive evolution in the medical process yet it is surrounded by controversy due to ethical processes. Because this form of genetic modification could affect later born children and their offspring, the protection of human subjects should be a priority in decisions about whether to proceed with such research (Dresser, 2004). The term Human Genetic Engineering was originally made public in 1970. During this time there were several methods biologists began to devise in order to better identify or isolate clone genes for manipulation in several species or mutating them in humans.

One thing that many people disagree upon is whether or not eugenics and genetic cloning is ethically right or wrong. On one hand, it could eliminate children being born with life threatening diseases by forewarning parents of potential medical problems. “It is known that hemophilia, albinism, and certain structural abnormalities are inheritable. Family gene maps, called pedigrees, can help families with serious diseases avoid having children with the same diseases through genetic counseling, and, increasingly, prospective parents can be tested directly for the presence of undesired genes.” (Prothero)

Although proponents of eugenics believe it can create a more fit society, it can lead to major inequalities. As explained by MacKellar and Betchel, “Eugenic practices might also result in a widened definition of disability and discrimination against the disabled.” Eugenics can give parents an opportunity to test if their child will have a specific genetic disease. This can lead to parents either aborting the embryo or fetus and sometimes infanticide. By doing this Dorthy Porter, the author of Darwinian Disease Archaeology states, “[it is] freeing humanity of deviant DNA.” Parents are doing this, as George who wrote Ethics, Politics, and Genetic Knowledge puts it, “for the