Ethical Issues In Genetic Engineering

Powerful technology such as genetic engineering arouses both hope and fear in humanity. Genetic engineering is the modification of genetic material by taking genes from one species and putting it into another. Genetic engineering was first introduced in animals and plants with the intention of enhancing humanity by creating improved food with medicinal properties, known as genetically modified (GM) food or genetically modified organism (GMO). However, scientists are now taking a great leap to create GM babies, known as Human Genetic Modification (HGM). Concerns on eugenics and treatment of human embryos as a property sparked all around the world, fearing that HGM may have the ability to alter human evolution, opening Pandora’s Box. As such,

Scientists manipulating with genes is equivalent to playing with nature or playing god. Changing and controlling human nature could be possible in the future with genetic engineering. IVF treatments involve discarding or freezing of unwanted embryos, raising a list of ethical issues. Whether disposing embryos is a form of abortion, killing an innocent child when it can be developed into a human being once it is inserted into a uterus. Are doctors unintentionally killing more lives just to save one life? According to the director of the pressure group Human Genetics Alert, David King, humans should not create a child to solve existing problems as it is incorrect (Williams, 2004). However, it is also unethical to leave an ill child to die when there are means to save the child. The fundamental issue here is to question which is more important, saving a current life or worrying about an unborn. Genetic engineering may also create social divide as only the rich are able to afford the expensive procedures. A PGD procedure costs around $4000 to $7500USD and an IVF procedure costs around $9000USD (Reproductive Health Technologies Project, n.d.). This might result in the rich having better health than the poor. People who could not afford the procedure have to accept their fate and make do with natural conception. They

Germ-line therapy allows genetic amendment to be passed down to the offspring by injecting mitochondrial DNA into a fertilised egg and has been banned in most countries. Somatic-cell therapy is similar to organ transplantation as it alters the genome of cells of individual organs or tissues and prevents passing down of modified or injected genes to the offspring. However, since genetic engineering is still in its experimenting process, much research has to be done as the negative impacts it might bring in the future is vague due to inadequate knowledge on genes. According to Gyngell (2015), editing genes may be detrimental to both the gene pool and to children. There is no guarantee that genes useful in one generation would continue to be beneficial in the next generation. Genes often have more than one function. Removing and adding of genes in a body may cause development of unforeseen and weakening resistance to other diseases. When a problem arises at a particular point in time, it would possibly continue to be passed down to future generations. The problems that genetic engineering poses are only speculations as of today and have yet to be confirmed because little have been tested in the real world due to strict laws and no human being is willing to be a test subject. Hence scientist should continue researching on genes and there should be prohibition of