Genetic Engineering Ethical Essay

Science has continued to evolve and scientist are consistently exploring and finding innovative ways to enhance life. For instance, with innovations like IVF, couples who would otherwise be childless, have an opportunity to be parents. Moreover, scientists have been able to implement procedures that allow parents to know if their children will have a genetic disease. However, scientist are in the midst of perfecting these techniques to allow them to go beyond mere diagnostic procedures alone and potentially cure and/or eradicate genetic diseases as well as viruses such as HIV via human genetic modification. While these medical advances have excited many there are still many on the fence, unsure of how far scientist should be permitted to explore.

However, what can determine how far is within ethical guidelines. With the all the technological advances today’s society has grown accustomed to having access to almost anything. Nevertheless, like topics of pro-choice vs pro-life and gun control this has many at odds and at both ends of the spectrum, debating whether genetic testing and/or genetic engineering is ethical? The following essay will explore the evidence as well as the rebuttals and answer that very question. While, the line may seem fine to many the idea of protecting future generations from potentially debilitating diseases is hard to ignore. Ultimately, while it is clear, that preventing and possibly curing diseases is certainly within ethical guidelines; any alterations beyond the medicinal scope crosses those

In fact, “many suggest that extending the average human lifespan would exacerbate the stress of a planet already overburdened with a population of 7.2 billion people” (Hertzenberg, n.d.). Additionally, “another controversy surrounding human genetic research is the experimentation required of human DNA” (Hertzenberg, n.d.), which, is inconceivable to those who believe that life begins at conception. However, scientists and advocates alike are quick to insist that viable embryos have and will never be used in any research technique, such as CRISPR. Furthermore, “modifications to genes to edit faulty DNA could be provided to adults who consent via CRISPR, which would mimic today’s vaccines” (Regalado, 2015). Therefore, the concern of hindering viable embryos would be eliminated. While, the above concerns may be refutted, Catalano (2012) states, “another concern is that these advances could lead to “designer babies”, where a children’s make up are designed to suit parental and/or societal whims” (para, 1). However, “genetic scientist affirm that not only would these processes be highly scrutinized and regulated, but would be against their current model, which maintains that modifications would only be allowed and considered ethical for medicinal purposes only”