Islamic and Catholic Views on Genetic Engineering

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Primary and Secondary sources found that Gene Enhancement had no place in the religions of Catholicism and Islam; both believe it is selfish, unnecessary and unethical. It is an embellishment to human vanity and additionally, insults human integrity when the offspring is affected by the technology. (What is the Catholic view on genetic engineering? - Mary Meets Dolly. 12/ 05/ 2014.)

The Catholic Church

In 1983, Pope John Paul II mentioned in an address “genetic enhancement was permissible- indeed, laudable- even from a Catholic point of view, as long as it met certain basic moral rules. Among those rules: that these therapies be available to all. Ensuring equality of care may become inseparable from ensuring equality of opportunity.” (What is the Catholic view on genetic engineering? - Mary Meets Dolly. 12/ 05/ 2014.)

One of the main concerns regarding these processes is that it is provided to all human beings. The process must meet moral requirements like equality and ensuring it is put to good use.

Donum Vitae says “A strictly therapeutic intervention whose explicit objective is the healing of various maladies such as those stemming from chromosomal defects will, in principle, be considered desirable, provided it is directed to the true promotion of the personal well-being of the individual without doing harm to his integrity or worsening his conditions of life. Such an intervention would indeed fall within the logic of the Christian moral tradition.” (What is the Catholic view on genetic engineering? - Mary Meets Dolly. 12/ 05/ 2014.).

So Gene Therapy, being a process solely aiming to heal genetic issues in human beings, is a technology which is desirable for our modern society. If a method can be produced, which cause...

... middle of paper ...

...? | CSIRO . 2014. What is genetic modification (GM)? | CSIRO . [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Food-and-Agriculture/WhatIsGM.aspx. [Accessed 29 May 2014].

In this reference, an understanding of Genetic Modification was acquired. Comprehending the goals of each process and how the process is carried out allowed the ethical standpoints on this topic to be understood.

What is the Catholic view on genetic engineering? - Mary Meets Dolly. 2014. What is the Catholic view on genetic engineering? - Mary Meets Dolly. [ONLINE] Available at:http://marymeetsdolly.com/blog/index.php?/archives/706-what-is-the-Catholic-view-on-genetic-engineering.html. [Accessed 12 May 2014].

This secondary research source provided quotes, and claims about the Catholic view on Genetic Modification. This source also distinguished between Gene Therapy and Genetic Enhancement.

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