The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering

Regulations are not the only resistance faced by genetic engineering. An issue of ethics is always being debated when it comes to this topic. Many religions, such as Roman Catholics and Muslims have deemed this practice unethical. For example, the Roman Catholic Church felt “that birth, death, and the lottery of genetic heredity belonged forever in the hands of a superior power and was not for humans to try to change (“Genetic Engineering” 26). Also, in prior years the Vatican had released a statement on the new technology and deemed it “unnatural” (“Genetic Engineering” 25). Another religion that deemed it unnatural was the Muslims. Devout Muslims who want to use this technique must do the cutting and pasting of the DNA prior to fertilization,

This technology is relatively new and proposes multiple risks when using it on human beings. At the top of the list, is the fear that genetic engineering will harm an unborn child. A child would receive this treatment if doctors have given a child a probable diagnosis of being born with a genetic disorder/disease. If you use this technique on an unborn child you risk their life and may even kill them trying to change an outcome that isn’t even confirmed yet (Fox 23). The second substantive harm is an “economic harm by externalizing to private income or wealth of a third party citizen” (Fox 22). Finally the last substantive harm is physical harm caused by someone who has been genetically modified (Fox 21). Although these fears are sometimes far-fetched, there is a legitimate concern about biological weapons being developed (Allen 20). SInce the last world world, the world realized just how cruel a power nation can be, for example the Nazi’s genocide of the Jewish people. This example has sparked the fear of a powerful nation with an unstable leader creating biological weapons. Scientist from around the world have met to discuss these danger and have implemented restrictions so the fear of a weapon of this type can be put at ease (Allen 20). With the help of scientists and informing the public on this issue, this field hopes to be accepted and practiced formally in the United