The Pros And Cons Of Human Genetic Engineering

Human genetic engineering Human genetic engineering, the manipulation of genes in an organism intended to better an organism, is quickly becoming a controversial topic in society. As technology advances and more tests are conducted, society becomes a step closer to creating the “perfect” baby. Many possibilities have become a reality, and questions such as, “How would the practice of human genetic engineering influence diversity in society?” have been raised. To answer this, many factors and situations must be taken into consideration. Looking through the scientific lense, the practice of human genetic engineering can either increase or decrease the diversity of a society depending on the situation. To get a more definitive answer, additional

IVF is a fertility treatment in which embryos can be examined and then artificially inseminated. The couple used IVF as a preventative measure to protect their child from a life threatening disease, water on the brain, that is commonly found in boys. Dr. Svetlana Rechitsky, head of the DNA laboratory at the Reproductive Genetics Institute, performed numerous PGD tests “with 99.4% accuracy rate per transfer cycle.” These tests are conducted to screen for over 200 different genetic conditions. As shown by these cases, human genetic engineering can decrease diversity, yet still be beneficial for people of all ages. Human engineering is an advancement that more people are taking advantage of in an effort to save the lives of their loved ones. For these particular cases, there was less genetic variation in society because the irregularities in

Human genetic engineering could complicate this by putting scientists in a predicament that would increase diversity but have irreversible effects. Genetic engineering could cause many new mutations to occur. Mutations can be both positive and negative, nonetheless, mutations increase genetic diversity. Since little research has been completed using genetic engineering, the practice could result in characteristics that have never been seen before (Metzl). In order to reverse this, “[scientists] could cause unanticipated diseases, [that have] no natural protection, treatment or cure,” stated Michael Specter, an author of biotechnology. The unpredictability of genetic engineering could cause scientists to face major pressure, in which unintended consequences could occur. This situation could cause a negative increase in diversity, therefore, genetic engineering should be practiced with