Is Human Genetic Modification Morally Right?

Lauren Ganze

The Next Big Question

Genetic modifications are being used with increasing regularity.

We have the technology to change a baby genetically before it’s even born.

People are wondering if it is acceptable to genetically modify humans like we do crops

and farm animals.

With genetic modifications, we may end up designing so many children in the embryo stage that the families wealthy enough to design their children will pass down

these enhanced traits to future generations.

The poorer families will reproduce completely naturally, and their children will be born with a

disadvantage from their first breath.

This is called Inheritable Genetic Modification (IGM): genes are altered early on so that the changes

expressed in the child are passed on to all of that child's descendants.

Should this happen, society will have a new alignment of social and/or economic classes.

Ethnic differences won’t matter anymore: instead, the new division will be between what

molecular biologist Lee M. Silver calls “the naturals” and “the GenRich”, or genetically

enhanced.

His major worry is that the “genetic gulf” between these two classes will become so wide

that humans will separate into two different species.

If human genetic modifications are overused, we may end up creating an entirely new species

of humans.

“If we genetically change a baby using genes from another source, is it still that same

baby?”

Instead of looking at the pros and cons of genetic modification, look at these two points of view.

If we change the baby to be stronger and smarter, we’ll be helping the human race.

If we change the baby to be stronger and smarter, we may play a part in alienating and isolating it from the rest of the human race because of its

differences.

Is it right to change the building blocks of the human body?

Doing so would be assuming the role of a creator. Some would say that it is “playing

God”.

Is it right?

Or is it wrong?

Changing the genes of a baby before it’s born can save it from a lifetime of pain and misery.

Doing so would be using the technology we have to make better lives for the future

generations.

One of the dangers that comes with genetic modifications is the power it holds.

To be able to engineer a human like one would a car or a computer gives some people

a feeling of power, of control, and of authority.

It lets us choose whether we want a child to have green eyes or blue, whether we want a

child to be super-smart or very sporty.

However, it also gives us the opportunity to completely eliminate genetic diseases like autism

and asthma from the human body.

Human genetic modifications would allow scientists to change a fetus while it is in the

womb and make it stronger.

By using genetic modification, a baby who would otherwise be a stillborn can grow up to be a

healthy, strong child.

Human genetic modification has its dangers, as does everything, but the problems faced are ones easily overcome compared to the things we can

avoid with genetic modifications.

Instead of an autistic child, it will be a wedded couple who argue whether they want their child

to have brown eyes or blue eyes.

Instead of a child with asthma, it will be a single mother who can’ decide whether to have a sporty child or one who will excel in math.

Genetic modifications are not a new science. Scientists have been experimenting with it on animals for years,

and have successfully changed embryos and cloned sheep and other farm animals.

We are only a few steps away from cloning the stored genes of a dead child for a mother who fell into

depression because of her loss.

Only a few things remain disputed: whether or not genetically modifying or engineering humans is right,

and how we would control this science and keep it from running rampant.

Faced with the genetic diseases and malformations we could avoid, genetic

engineering is morally right, for humans and animals.

Some will argue still that it is completely wrong, and that we have no right to change a child

before it is born.

However, it is almost an unanimous decision that it is better for a baby to be partially engineered

than it is for a baby to be born with autism.

The verdict:

Genetic modification is morally right.

Sources of Information

• http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article.php?id=244

• http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_1_31/ai_54956384/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering

Images

• http://martianchronicles.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/dna-molecule2.jpg

• http://sr.burnham.org/sr/homepage/dna/images/pic001.jpg

• http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/blood/images/large_white-cells.jpg

• http://www.britsattheirbest.com/images/ii_dna_fingerprinting.jpg

• http://www.dna-structure.com/dna-double-helix-347.jpg