The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering

There are many controversial issues throughout time that have risen and led countries to disagree with one another worldwide. Eugenics and genetic engineering on humans is a topic that many believe crosses a major ethical boundary. Many scientists and ethicists believe that gene editing on human genes is unethical at certain degrees and it should not be done until the proper precautions have been overlooked and restrictions are made. The reason for this is due to the fact that in the past, scientists and historical figures have previously attempted to create a perfect human race in the past based on the idea of eugenics, which is why many societies want to take precautions in order for there to be no chance that history will repeat itself once

Eugenics consists of selective breeding, the process of sterilization and last but not least, the manipulation of the human genome. Gene editing on humans became a worldwide discussion after researchers in the country of China performed an experiment using the new and advanced genetic engineering procedure known as CRSPR and used the “technology on human embryos” (Adams, np). CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat. According to Nature, CRISPR has “the power to perform targeted, highly efficient alterations of genome sequence and gene expression and will undoubtedly transform biological research and spur the development of novel molecular therapeutics for human disease” (Ledford, np). This new technology has only been performed on animal genes such as monkeys, but it had never been tested on humans until the experiment was done in China. This event shocked the world due to the ethical barriers that were crossed. Many are questioning the ethics of whether or not it is right to alter the genes of humans and if it is something that we should have the ability to

The discovery of the science took place in the mid-19th century after Gregor Mendel’s research on fruit flies and pea plants which led to his discovery of the fundamental laws of inheritance. His research allowed him to learn that genes come in pairs, one pair inherited from the mother and the other from the father. In the late 19th century, a scientist from England, named Sir Francis Galton is known for having created a field of hereditary improvement and is known as “the father of eugenics” (Weikart, np). Francis Galton shortly after began pushing for the perfection of the human gene pool and many people were by his side. The majority of the people that supported him were Americans that had good jobs and were well off in life. Entering the 20th century, Galton’s ideas began to gain an immense amount of popularity and favorability in the U.S. Americans began to advocate for the idea of eugenics by proposing laws that would push for the sterilization of prisoners, the mentally challenged and others with traits that society deemed unworthy to pass on. It was very unfortunate that most of these people had no say in the movement that was