Some people wish they were born with blue eyes, others wished for blonde hair. The unique characteristics we are born with comes down to our DNA and genetics. According to Dictionary.com, “Genetically Modified” is a term described as “denoting or derived from an organism whose DNA has been altered for the purpose of improvement or correction of defects”. Scientists have been researching manipulating genes for some time now. Scientists could potentially alter babies before they are born to change their eye color, hair color and other attributes that would be ideal to the expecting parents. But, if we start to genetically modify babies, we will be corrupting our natural way of life and free will. It was not that long ago that there was an age of no internet or computers. Life around the world has changed dramatically in the past thirty years. Technology has advanced at faster rate than ever before. We now know about many new things including humans including our DNA. It seems as though, the more we learn about the make up of our bodies, the more we are learning how to manipulate them. Do we want to let science take over our natural way of life? Russell Powell of the Journal of Medicine & Philosophy agrees that there is a common worry that humans could be harmed by genetic engineering of humans. The problem, Powell says, could potentially lead to the extinction of human life. By reducing human genetic diversity, we could end up with a biological monoculture that may increase our susceptibility to deadly diseases. Lately there has been many debates over foods that have been genetically modified. Imagine the heated debates if it were humans that started to get genetically modified. We would live in a world where one could pay ... ... middle of paper ... ...plete - EBSCOhost. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Hanna, Kathi E., PhD. "Germline Gene Transfer." Germline Gene Transfer. National Human Genome Research Institute, 01 Mar. 2006. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. "Germ Line." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. . Hanna, Kathi E., PhD. "Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Fact Sheet." Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Fact Sheet. National Human Genome Research Institute, 13 June 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Walsh, Judy R. "American Experience." PBS. PBS, 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. "in vitro fertilization." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 12 Nov. 2013. . "Frequently Asked Questions." Stem Cell Basics [Stem Cell Information]. National Institute of Health, 28 Apr. 2009. Web. 12 Nov Dec. 2013.
A person's individuality begins at conception and develops throughout life. These natural developments can now be changed through genetically engineering a human embryo. Through this process, gender, eye and hair color, height, medical disorders, and many more qualities can be changed. I believe genetically engineering a human embryo is corrupt because it is morally unacceptable, violates the child's rights, and creates an even more divided society.
A substantial percentage of the work on the ethics of genetically modified food has primarily centralized on its potentially nocuous effects on human health and on the rights to label
"Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: What Is PGD." Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: What Is PGD. Genoma Excellence in Genetic Testing, 2007. Web. 01 May 2014.
Genetic engineering is nothing new. “Genetic engineering refers to a set of technologies that are being used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms” (“What is Genetic Engineering?”). Using genetic engineering will allow parents to choose what traits their child will have. For example, the color of the child’s eyes, skin, and hair will be decided. As well as choosing the height of the baby and weight it will be able to be.
National Institutes for Health. (2009). Stem cell basics: What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized?. Stem Cell Information,1. Retrieved from http://stemcells.nih.gov/
If you read the paper or watch the news, you’re undoubtedly aware of the debate raging over genetically modified food. Is it bad or is it good? Between the feuding sides, you might find yourself a little lost and wondering which side is right. Answers to seemingly simple questions have been blurred or exaggerated by both sides. On one side genetically modified food is more sustainable, safe, cheaper, easier to grow and has the potential of creating disease-fighting foods. Although this is positive and good intentioned, there may be unintended consequences that we have been quick to overlook. Those opposing genetically modified food clam that it is dangerous, harms the environment, increases health risks, and causes infertility and weight gain. Even things like the declining bee population may have closer ties to modified food than previously thought. We must look to science for answers. By studying genetically modified organisms (GMOs) we can guide our decision about whether we want to be consuming them.
Stem Cell Basics. In Stem Cell Information [World Wide Web site] Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009 [cited Friday, November 08, 2013] Available at stemcells.nih.gov
Within the last 100 years or so scientists have many valuable discoveries that have benefited mankind. These discoveries include the discovery of genes. Scientists have discovered what makes humans so unique from one another. However, with this newly gained knowledge of the function of genes comes the ability to alter or change them. Just imagine in the not so near future, you and your partner want to start a family together. You travel to your local gene councillor to pick the physical and characteristic traits of your child. That’s right. With the knowledge that has been gained about genes, scientists can “create” the perfect child genetically. The thought is scary. Nature has always taken us down the right path but are we really ready to take control? Do we really know enough? Can we handle the consequences?
Hanna, Kathi E. "Genome.gov | Cloning/Embryonic Stem Cells." Genome.gov | National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) - Homepage. Apr. 2006. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.
Although the advancement of genetic science has provided humans with the ability to choose their child’s sex, eye color, or even intelligence, some believe that it is highly immoral to commercialize this new found power. The Oxford English Dictionary defines eugenics as the science of improving the (especially human) population by controlled breeding for desirable inheritable characteristics (Suckling, 2000). The original purpose of the trait selection, called eugenics, was to check for certain disease-bearing genes. This allowed for parents to choose non-disease bearing embryos using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) (Steere, 2008). The technology has recently been developing into detecting various other physical traits that will undoubtedly become abused by the general public if it is brought to the commercial market (Suckling, 2000).
Science and technology are rapidly advancing everyday; in some ways for the better, and in some, for worse. One extremely controversial advance is genetic engineering. As this technology has high potential to do great things, I believe the power genetic engineering is growing out of control. Although society wants to see this concept used to fight disease and illness, enhance people 's lives, and make agriculture more sustainable, there needs to be a point where a line is drawn.
How many of you hear the words “genetically modified food” and immediately think “BAD”? How many of you scorn the idea that genetically modified foods are useful? How many of you have been manipulated by the media to think that all biotechnology is evil? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been genetically spliced to achieve a certain trait. As the demand for a larger food supply is increasing due to population growth, the benefits that GMO foods provide are being hailed as the only solution to the food crisis. However, many people are making inadequately informed decisions, and are pushing them to the back shelf. I will inform you on why genetically modified organisms may be the only way to a stable, safe future for the less fortunate.
Genetic engineering gives the power to change many aspects of nature and could result in a lot of life-saving and preventative treatments. Today, scientists have a greater understanding of genetics and its role in living organisms. However, if this power is misused, the damage could be very great. Therefore, although genetic engineering is a field that should be explored, it needs to be strictly regulated and tested before being put into widespread use. Genetic engineering has also, opened the door way to biological solutions for world problems, as well as aid for body malfunctions. I think that scientists should indeed stop making genetic engineering for humans, because it will soon prove to be devastating to the human race. It would cause rivalries and tension among different kinds of genetically engineered humans for dominance and power.
Human genetic engineering can provide humanity with the capability to construct “designer babies” as well as cure multiple hereditary diseases. This can be accomplished by changing a human’s genotype to produce a desired phenotype. The outcome could cure both birth defects and hereditary diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Human genetic engineering can also allow mankind to permanently remove a mutated gene through embryo screening as well as allow parents to choose the desired traits for their children. Negative outcomes of this technology may include the transmission of harmful diseases and the production of genetic mutations. The benefits of human genetic engineering outweigh the risks by providing mankind with cures to multiple deadly diseases.
The controversy of these issues stems from the immense potential in genetic sciences for both positive use and harmful misuse. Though the questions and fears of critics reflect the wisdom of caution, the potentially unlimited benefits mandate that we pursue these technologies.