Engineered Life vs. God Given Life

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When considering the social context of our society today, it is not surprising that the concepts of morality and ethics are introduced in the debate over genetic engineering. Is it ethically correct as a society for scientists to alter human nature by editing genetics? Is it moral for an engineer to “play God” in the eyes of some and determine which genes will be passed on to the next generation? Bioethics, a critical part of any medical field, is likewise crucial in genetic engineering. Without regulations and limits, genetic engineering in humans could have a significant impact on genetic diversity, undermining the health of the human species.
One of the most common fears about the genetic engineering is that it will create a monoculture (the cultivation of a single crop in a given area) in humans rather than crops. Many scientists have noticed that human engineering can create a biological diversity among humans by manipulating the human genes and altering them to make a perfect human. According to Powell, everyone in a society could look like either Ken or Barbie, yet their underlying genetic diversity could rival that of any two randomly selected people on earth (211). As defined by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, human genetic engineering is altering the genes within a cell of a living human. "The term is further defined as being divided into two categories: somatic and germ-line. Somatic genetic engineering targets the genes in specific organs and tissues of the body without affecting genes in their eggs or sperm. On the contrary, germ-line genetic engineering targets the genes in the eggs, sperm, or early embryos. Genetic variation allows the human race to adapt and survive when catastrophe arises" (...

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...rr. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Genetic Engineering: Is It Morally Acceptable?" USA Today Magazine Jan. 1999. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. http://www.pitt.edu/~eileenb/Writing%20Assignment%203.docx Murphy, Timothy F. "The Ethics Of Impossible And Possible Changes To Human Nature." Bioethics 26.4 (2012): 191-197. Academic Search Elite. Web. 29 Apr.
Powell, Russell. "The Evolutionary Biological Implications Of Human Genetic Engineering." Journal Of Medicine & Philosophy 37.3 (2012): 204-225. Academic Search Elite. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
Sandel, Michael J. "The Case Against Perfection." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 01 Apr. 2004. Web. 05 May 2014.
West, Nicholas. "New Medical Ethics: Designer Genes For Your Baby, and 'after-birth' Abortions." Activist Post. Activist Post, 7 Aug. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

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