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Pros And Cons Of Human Genetic Engineering

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Medical Technology
Imagine a world without disease, where all babies are born healthy. People would not have to suffer from any of the thousands of genetic diseases that wreak such havoc. Such a concept seems so futuristic and highly improbable, but scientists have recently made tremendous strides towards technology that can eliminate genetic defects from our DNA. Human genetic engineering is a rapidly advancing field that has the potential to eradicate countless genetic diseases, yet, at the same time, it also raises a lot of questions and concerns. There are many ethical questions that arise when it comes to modifying human DNA, and there are also concerns about its safety and its reputation in science.
The field of human genetic engineering, …show more content…

One of the major ethical dilemmas with any such type of gene editing is how this can affect the balance of the social order in a future world. According to Belluck, scientists have warned long ago about the dangers posed to a free society if we allow altering genes. There is a possibility that if this science is not strictly regulated it can lead to a situation where the wealthier people in society have access to create “children with enhanced traits” like features and abilities. The general public would not be able to have the same access to technology and consequently would have normal babies with average human abilities. This “may lead to a new form of eugenics” where certain people are considered a lot more valuable than other people. Regular, normal people, who were born unenhanced, would be less valuable and people born with disabilities would be on an even lower level. Marcy Darnovsky, executive director of the Center for Genetics and Society, says she is scared of one-day seeing fertility clinics marketing “gene editing for enhancement purposes.” If such a thing happens, society will have children who are considered “biologically superior” to others (Ladika). Such a scenario can seriously damage our civilization and reverse decades of civil rights and equality

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Parents could not only dictate how smart or beautiful their child is, but also the gender. While China and other countries have dabbled in this area of genetic engineering, this is a new and controversial topic in America. The question of morals and whether it is right to change a child’s lineage is something that seriously needs to be considered. Is it acceptable to draw a line at DNA editing just for diseases? What about survivable diseases?

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To have the option of creating a baby that has all of the characteristics and traits that a parent desires with the use of genetic technology appears to be great idea, if it can be accomplished responsibly. What must be looked at is not only how the use of genetic technology can be used, but also how it may be controlled. In this paper I will examine the use of genetic technology in humans, and why it cannot be conducted responsibly by referring to the views of Tenzin Gyatso the author of “Ethics and the New Genetics” who believes that genetic technology must involve ethics, moral compass and compassion, and also Debora L. Spar the author of “Designing Babies” who believes that in order for genetic technology to be done responsibly rules and

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Due to the fact that the production of designer babies is an extremely expensive process, only the rich would be able to afford it so a gap in society could be created, which in turn would only increase because the richer people would only get richer as a result of these new found genetic enhancements and the poor, poorer still. Another reason, which links to this idea of genetic enhancement is that we as humans would get carried away by correcting perfectly healthy babies with the aim to research a so-called ‘perfect’ human. Another consequence of this genetic editing is the fact that this technique is only in early stages, so tampering with the structure of genetics may actually have unintended consequences especially as genes often have multiple uses so whilst one aspect of a baby may be improved, another may be removed completely, creating more harm than good. Moreover, due to the experimental nature of all of these edits, the termination of embryos is extremely likely which would also be incredibly unfair to the baby as it has no choice in any of these decisions made on it by its parents, so how is it fair that someone else gets to decided what happens to them for them? A consequence of all of this enhancing is that it will cause a loss of individuality because if everyone is suddenly modified and given the

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No matter how far genetic engineering advances there will always be issues and bumps along the road. If genetic engineering is experimented, babies will be born with defects unseen and unheard of by our current generation. In today’s world, babies are born with natural defects everyday. However, doctors and scientists all over the world are working to cure these diseases and the infant mortality rates have plummeted as science has improved. If as a society, we condoned genetic engineering we would open pandora’s box to new and unseen illness and abnormalities that will take years possibly even decades to cure (if there is a cure).

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After, parts of the world heard this life-saving operation, it began to make people think if they apply to it to other situations and how beneficial it would be. However, on the other side, if someone were to look at the unethical side of gene alteration, they may see it as a violation of unborn’s rights, since the fetus is viewed as a person at this time and the parents aren’t allowing it an opportunity to say something if it could as well as the ability of playing the religion card (people are playing as God now) and the moral and ethical consequences associated with gene modification. When looking at the moral and ethical side of gene

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Human genetic modification is the manipulation of genes in human DNA so that defective genes don’t obstruct proper functioning, and so that inherited diseases are not passed on. Those against it may argue that genetic modification is simply unnecessary, immoral, or interferes with nature’s course. However, genetic modification overall is and will continue to be beneficial to the mental and physical health of the entire human species. Falling under the umbrella of biology, it is sensible to consider the studying of genes as a significant aspect of the biological sciences because it’s learning how to manipulate them in order to progress preventative medicine and create the possibility of a healthier future. One method of genetic modification

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Ethics is a difficult subject because to decide what is, or is not ethical one must first take into consideration what others deem ethical, one of the more extensive obstacles being religion and how different people of different faiths view a subject as controversial as Genetic Modification. Many faiths would safely say that Genetic Modification is 100% wrong, and that it is not our place to tamper with such science. But completely opposite of this belief other religions believe that we have been made in the image of their “god” and that we are here to fix the mistakes of ”god”, whomever that may be. One must take into account the fact that there are many different views on whether or not we should dive further into the science of genetic

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In the near future, future generations of humans could be edited to have desirable traits and qualities. Commercially editing humans for desirable traits is unethical and dehumanises humans. By commercially editing humans for non-medical reasons, reduces humans to a product, effectively diminishing human value. In addition to decreasing human value, gene editing of a human occurs when the subject is an embryo, not allowing the unborn individual to make a choice. The possible reality of commercially designing humans to give them desirable traits is completely unethical, as it reduces humans to a product and diminishes their value as a human.

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Since this is an opportunity for benefits in a war, it can cause a huge uproar on human neglect or control as well as be the cause of war cause of dispute on other countries not having such a military advantage. For example, the possible usage of genetic modification can lead to “make designer babies, dangerous mutants, and biological weapons,” (Bloomberg 1). This clearly demonstrates what the system can do from designer babies to dangerous mutants. We have already messed up a dog breed called the English Bulldog because of the standards wanted in society today. Now this breed is enabled to breathe, walk, and has many health problems for something itś fragile size.

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In the movie Gattaca, the people who weren’t genetically engineered we’re undoubtedly the bottom of society, and those who were had the top jobs of the society. If the technology is available, then more people would want to have this advantage for their children, making it increasingly more difficult for a “de-gene-erate” to compete with a normally birthed person. In the video about China Engineering Smarter Babies, they discussed the fact that China is using a technology where they spot the best DNA and use the embryo the best genes possible from their respective gene pool. With this information, we can already tell that other countries are on the rise with modifying unborn children to make them as best as possible. I don’t want to be left behind in this advancement, so if I could, I would use this technology on my child.

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Gene therapy is a topic of debate that has numerous moral dangers because of its ability to alter the genes in the body, which violates the beliefs of many environmentalists and people with strong religious faiths. These moral dangers began with a simple genetic alteration of organisms, such as crops, however the lack of development in the modification of human genes is the only aspect stopping gene therapy from one of the largest disputes: demolishing the original nature of the human race. Since technology is continuously becoming more advanced , gene therapy could consequently have the ability to amend genes in ways that even scientists begin to question the moral dangers that come with research. Human embryo research, germ-line engineering

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This essay will look more on the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering has some advantages. Firstly it allows for faster growth rate .Genetic engineering allows of plants or animals to be modified so their maturity can occur at a quicker pace outside of the normal growth conditions that are favourable without genetic changes as well .Secondly, it may also provide a cure for disease to improve health (apecsecadmin, 2014). Genetic engineering can be used to eradicate a number of incurable and deadly disease which could be done by identifying the genes that cause these disease, and manipulate them to prevent people from contracting these potentially deadly diseases.

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Genetic engineering in humans, as influencing and promising as it sounds, is actually a whole new area of discovery in which we know very little about, and making mistakes could be dire to an individual’s life. We know that this could lead to a breakthrough but it can end very badly, and also make humanity have a lack of genetic diversity between humans. There’s also the threat of a “perfect humanity” in which everyone has a planned course and there would seem to be no variation among humans which is what makes us feel unique and feel as though we have the ability to create an impact on society. We can acknowledge the benefits of genetically modifying in human beings, but we have to look at it without bias and acknowledge the fact that there is still a huge margin of uncertainty. Overall, genetically modifying human beings is

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