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Arguments Against Germline Gene Therapy

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Many lives can be saved from manipulation of parental genes. Genetic engineering is a way of manipulating our genes in such a way as to make our bodies better by altering the sperm and egg cells. The act of altering the traits that a child is going to born with, is called Germline Gene Therapy. These changes to the genomes would be inheritable and it will be passed down through the generations as it has been proven over years of studies (Arnold Paul online). Even though germline gene therapy can be risky, and it could decrease the genetic diversity, as well as have some negative effects on off springs of the next generations, it still can increase the life span, enhance and make offspring be healthier and prevent future diseases. Therefore, …show more content…

One reason that a person might be against germline gene therapy is that genetic modification can limit our genetic diversity. This can danger that our gene pool diminishes and that as a population we become more susceptible to being wiped out by a previously unknown disease threat (Arnold Paul online). Although it prevents diseases from parents, it will perfect the family from a certain disease but it will make it hard to predict other diseases because it will be common and more people will be perfected, so it’ll be harder to predict the unknown diseases. Another reason that they believe is that unanticipated negative effects of Inheritable Genetic Modification would be passed on to all future generations (Inheritable Genetic online). Negative effects after the genetic modification can be hurtful to the future offspring, and it can be passed on to generations. The last reason to be against gene manipulation is that it’s very risky as Arnold Paul points out that there are risks associated with getting genes into a human body and having them carry out the desired function. Some genes are carried in on viral vectors and these bugs have been altered so as not to infect a patient with a disease (Arnold Paul online). Inheritable genetic modification is risky in two ways, first is that it might not work, and it could be a waste of money. The second reason is that it could lead to other unknown diseases since the genetic diversity will

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Another viewpoint to do with the Government is that they have no right to control reproduction, which although slightly different to conventional methods, may actually be the only safe option for willing couples. This argument is further backed up by the fact that this is simply the replacement of a defective gene, so is no different to an organ transplant, which is completely legal, therefore germline editing should also have the same parameters. As this is a massive technological advancement, it makes sense to continue and expand on the research available in order for us to be given a greater understanding of genetics, whilst not letting ethical viewpoints stop us in our tracks. Another reason for the benefits of germline editing is that by making genetic changes to an embryo, you would be increasing the human lifespan and also reducing the risk of potentially life-threatening diseases. Which would not only allow parents to give their child a healthy life but also enable that child to

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In the first place, gene enhancements should not be used for selfish reasoning. Enhancements come in many different forms , but in this case, gene editing does not. When it comes to gene enhancements, it is almost like cheating. Soon, the saying “that's how you were born” will be up to our parents. With gene enhancements, scientists could change the entire child.

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Consent is knowing all the facts and risks about the medical procedure and then agreeing to go through with it. It is crucial to every medical procedure and without it, the right of the individual is compromised. Those affected by the changing of the genes are unborn and have no say in receiving the treatment. The impacted are not consulted and those people have not given permission to the changes that were made to their genetic makeup. It would never be known whether the future generations would want the kind the germline gene therapy that their ancestors decided to do.

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The standpoint I take on the issue is that I support genetic engineering. This is for a variety of reasons such as being able to rid the world of certain genetic diseases that can be life threatening, or overall increasing the average lifespan of the world population we know today. This in general outweighs the “possibility” of harmful things to come with the use of genetic engineering, and the only small chance that the unknown will bring something extremely harmful is not a big enough threat to prevent the medical progression of the human race to help people's’ quality of life. The main argument that brought me to having this opinion is the prevention of these diseases. As someone who has had personal experience with genetic diseases affecting my family in a negative way, these would be impactful and life changing to a wide variety of people globally.

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In this case, the pros for gene alterations can vary from genetic disorder prevention, increasing life span and lowering the risk of inherited medical conditions, which was the first known reason and cause for gene alteration. Not only was this a medical breakthrough, but it was a life-saving procedure that occurred in 2000 to a boy named Adam Nash. His sister, Molly suffered from Fanconi’s Anemia, a “rare, inherited blood disorder that leads to bone marrow failure,” which he would have inherited had he been created naturally ("What Is Fanconi Anemia?"). When Adam was born, blood cells from his umbilical cord were transplanted into his sister’s body, saving him from the disease. His birth, no matter how artificial, unquestionably served a vital purpose.

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Secondly, the procedure is most often used to insert genes into fertilized eggs - injection with a microscopically guided glass needle - has a high failure rate and thirdly, the problem is lack of control over where the gene is inserted into the embryo's genetic machinery” (Human). The sole purpose of doing germline gene therapy to an embryonic organism is to prevent any health issues before birth. An option for those who are at risk of procreating a child with cystic fibrosis, germline therapy could be done to alter the embryos DNA genome to create a healthy baby. Before an embryo is even developed some doctors and

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As technology advances, more things become possible.  One of these things is genetically modifying a baby, this is very wrong and unethical..  Genetic modifying or genetic engineering is altering someone or something’s DNA to change a trait, or rewire the genetic code of someone.  Scientists hope to cure diseases with this method, but doing this can lead to some harmful effects.  Genetic engineering can lead to genetic defects, it limits genetic diversity, and it can be taken to very extreme levels.

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Genetic engineering is not something to be played around with. Any mistake in this process can alter the lives of many future generations. When focusing on the ethics behind this treatment, medical professionals and clinical ethicists take many factors into consideration. They look at whether or not the goal and outcome of the treatment are supposed to impact an individual and their family lineage or a group of people. The main ethical issue with pure germline modification is that these types of treatments will produce a change that can be passed down to future generations and therefore any error, known or unknown, will also be passed down and will affect the offspring.

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Human Genetic Engineering is the process of manipulating genes in an embryo to improve its quality of life. There are four different types of Human Genetic Engineering but there are two that receive the most scrutiny which are Germline Genetic Enhancement and Germline Genetic Therapy. Both forms of genetic engineering alter genes in embryos, but the difference between the two is that Germline Genetic Enhancement would be used for non medical purposes and Germline Genetic Therapy would be used for medical purposes (Resnick). The technology to allow these types of genetic enhancement is close to being available, but many criticize this kind of embryonic manipulation before any trials or studies have taken place. Due to the alterations on these

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This new technology could be extremely detrimental to society and open a door to designer humans (Maldarell). Currently, only people treated with gene therapy have genetically engineered DNA, but the powerful new gene editing tools could expand the scope of DNA altercation, forever changing the human genome (Saey). Although gene therapy is vital to many people and should not be banned, it is dangerous technology that scientists are experimenting with. Carefully constructed restrictions need to be placed so that they are only permitted to alter genes in somatic, or body, cells and strictly prohibit alteration in reproductive cells (Saey). Molecular biologist Matthew Porteaus of Stanford University states that “there is no benefit in my mind of having a child born with a devastating disease, but that does not argue for sliding into Gattaca territory, where genetic modification becomes mandatory” (qtd.

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