Our Posthuman Future : Consequences Of The Biotechnology Revolution

To survive in such a multifaceted and diverse world we as people must possess the ability to think critically in highly complex situations. The world is an extremely challenging place, all of us are forced to adapt by constantly challenging existing principles and performing certain methods to ensure our growth both physically and mentally. Many claim that contemporary society needs a skill called critical thinking to adapt and survive. Critical thinking is a higher level of intellectual progression that makes use of diverse information, skills and attitudes in interpreting situations and confronting problems. Critical thinking is done

Humans are on a constant quest in the search for perfection and advancement in all areas of life through progressive scientific knowledge. From such a stance, the future of humans appears boundless with all the potential possibilities biotechnology provides, but such developments will cause ethical, social and biological implications.

The use of genetic engineering shouldn't give parents the choice to design their child because of the act of humans “playing” God, the ethics involved in interfering with human lives, and the dangers of changing human genes. Because of recent technological advances in "designer babies", parents

For our presentation, I believe that we stated our main point, and reiterated it throughout the presentation that we wanted our fellow students to be able to understand the physiological influence of altitude on cerebral blood flow following a concussion. We included some sub points that were at a level of content that was appropriate for our audience, and I believe that our slide design emphasized relevant pictures rather than words, while maintaining the pictorial aspect of the rule of thirds. I believe that we could have emphasized the use of pictures rather that word throughout our presentation, as some our slides were indeed a bit too wordy. We meant to include a question and answer sequence within our presentation, but a lapse in our performance lead to this segment being excluded, so I

Malik, Kenan. "Concerns About Biotechnology Altering Human Nature Are Groundless." Designer Babies, edited by Clayton Farris Naff, Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010850213/OVIC?u=j170902014&xid=e7789a12. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017. Originally published as "Reviews: Francis Fukuyama, Our Posthuman Future," New Statesman, 20 May 2002.

Recent developments in genetic engineering has lead the idea of “designer babies” out of science fiction and into our reality. But, is is fair to risk the life of an unborn child for the selfish desires of the parents? This is what the “designer baby” dispute is all about. While health issues are often the major focal point in the debate, social and moral issues play roles as well. It is understandable that it may seem incredible to have the ability to choose the traits of a child before it is born, however for the use of non-medical purposes, the dangers greatly exceed any advantages imaginable.

Controversy. Often heard on the news and found plastering the headlines of shady websites. However, there is none more associated with the word than the practice of genetically modifying organisms. Ever since the Industrial Revolution,the shift from manual labor to steam power, technology has developed at an accelerated pace, paving the way for greater innovation. Recently, the emergence of Biotechnology from the study of DNA has allowed for the creation of GMOs, organisms whose genes has been edited in order to express a certain trait. GMOs are most commonly used in agriculture, often designed for herbicide resistance or pesticide creation. Due to Media overreaction and false studies, the public has been whipped into a frenzy, demanding scientists

In society, newly introduced ideas and morals are viewed upon with mixed feelings, including the process of genetic modification, which has yet to prosper or to crumple. The topic of genetic modification is introduced and detailed upon within the articles “Expert Groups Says Embryo Genetic Modification Should Be Allowed” by Will Dunham and “UK Scientists Seek Permission to Genetically Modify Human Embryos” by Ian Sample. They delve upon the idea that the process of genetic modification can be appropriately used in which to prevent certain unnecessary and unwanted diseases from developing, ultimately saving lives, and can provide further insight for human development. Additionally, they discuss the point that genetic modification is still at

Over the past decade, the scientific technology of genetic engineering has grown drastically. Online articles propose that the chance to pick the accurate characteristics a guardian wants for their child will be accessible, “Any couple with several thousand dollars to spare can choose the sex of their offspring” (Ehrich and Williams, 2004). Progressed regenerative advances permit people and specialists to screen embryos for a hereditary issue and select solid developing lives. Although Designer babies have been a subject that has been banned in China, UK, and India, it is still a mainstream point far and wide. This subject brings a considerable measure of verbal confrontations about the basic, yes and no, but additionally about when and when not.

Imagine a future where parents never had to worry about their child being sick-- a future where technology allowed parents the ability to make a flawless child. That future is near, but is halted due to people’s fear of Genetically Modified Babies, which is “a biologically radical technique referred to by terms including ‘mitochondrial replacement,’ and ‘nuclear genome transfer,’ [these techniques] would produce modifications in every cell of any resulting children” (Cussin and Darnovsky 16). This procedure takes the fetus’s cells and allows the doctors to manipulate the cells in any matter they want; then, the cells are placed in the women’s egg. Unfortunately, Genetically Modified Babies are “codified as [prohibited] in more than 40 countries and several international treaties” (Cussin and Darnovsky 16). In the United States, the FDA had a full day meeting on the subject matter. On February 2014, they discussed human modification and prohibited it (Cussin, Darnovsky 17). The idea of a “designer baby” may seem preposterous, but technology is making the concept attainable. In the United States, there are laboratories that have the technology to reach such a goal, but are unused due to the FDA’s law; however, if “nuclear genome transfer were allowed, [the laboratories] could be used for any purpose” (Cussin and Darnovsky 17). America should allow gene manipulation in babies because it is inhumane to let innocent babies suffer from diseases and disorders that can be

Ever feel terrified of what the future of genetics is? Perhaps designer babies? But, maybe no one has stated the wonderful possibilities it has and its outcomes. This has made the scientific technologies in genetics help us as us humans. Our civilization has become majorly advanced just by using genetics; and it isn’t as harmful as it sounds. We can save babies and have them personalized to how we would want them to be. Our society would be so much sophisticated. Using genetics to create designer babies is a tremendous decision to make, so the human race can advance.

I support that the danger of the misuse of genetic engineering is too great and development and use of technology should be halted. The first reason I don’t support the creation of designer babies is that some important historic figures had sickness. Another reason why I don’t support the genetic modification of babies is that the scientists can make mistakes. Finally, the last reason I do not support the genetic engineering is so that people don’t enter a bad emotional state.

For years the discussion on designer babies has been up surging and is now at the forefront of many medical and academic discussions. An experimental technique, known as gene therapy, birthed the idea of designer babies (“Gene Therapy”. GHF). This very experimental technique, why, uses healthy genes to treat, or rather prevent diseases that could be passed down from parent to child. However, scientists have ventured to further expound on the concept of preventing disease to a more cosmetic and superficial approach. The more imposing science of gene therapy would attempt to take science further into the realm of altering physical characteristics ultimately allow parents to choose their babies eye color, gender, and other physical characteristics that have no bearing on the child 's well being or health. The term now coined as “Designer Babies” is used to describe how by using gene therapy, parents can quite literally design their babies employing genetic screening combined with in vitro fertilization to alter otherwise naturally occurring physical appearances. Whether or not this revolutionary new science should be banned in the United States has become a very controversial topic in the U.S. igniting the strong opinions of scientists and politicians alike. Those in opposition believe that gene therapy is unethical, arguing that science is pressing toward a level that is morally perverse by allowing science to create the next generation instead of

The Biotech Century written by Jeremy Rifkin provides insight about the evolution of the earth. In our present time we are living in a pyrotechnology, Rifkin suggest that we are now heading toward a biotechnology age. There is a “new operational matrix” coming into play, which comes together from seven different variables. The biotechnology age represents a time when living material can be altered for economic cornucopia. The biotechnology era does promise a lot of advancement, but does not offer a predictive ecology. The advancement in science could cause a disruption in humanity, due to manipulation of living material. During the Biotech Century people are faced with Godly like choices, people will have the option to make a “perfect human” getting rid of all defects. While other people will be awarded patents for living material for commercial incentive.

While reading these three engaging articles, we made sure to incorporate critical thinking skills. During our discussions, we made sure to ask each other questions, clarify our thoughts whenever speaking unclearly, and making sure to not stray away from the topic at hand. Occasionally, if we ever had thoughts that were not relevant to our discussion, one of us would remind us to stay focused. During our discussions, we tried to connect the article to each other and how they related.