Controvesy Over the Genetic Engineering of Humans

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Recommended: the case against genetic engineering

Beginning in the 1900's, scientists see the possibilities of transforming humanity through the new science of genetics. Since long time ago, farmers use a form of genetic engineering known as selective breeding. It is not until Gregor Mendel, who is honored as the founder of the new science of genetics, discovered the pattern in the inheritance of certain traits that genetics start to attract the attention of people. The Human Genome Project is launched in 1990. Scientists attempt to map out all the genes in the human genome, hoping the completion of the Project will bring great advances to medicine and biology. However, although genetic engineering of human and new technologies empower people such as the scientists and parents to bring them much benefits, genetics also create many ethical and social issues.

Fist of all, germ line gene therapy brings up many ethical issues concerning the future generations. Gene therapy is generally accepted by the public. Somatic gene therapy only altars the genetic structure of an individual, therefore the gene will not be passed on to the children. It is argue that there are no difference between injecting insulin into the body and injecting insulin gene into the cell. Somatic gene therapy has become a standard method to cure genetic disorders. However, there is another type of gene therapy called germ line gene therapy. Like the name suggests, germ line therapy altars the germ cells (sex cells) of human. The germ cells will divide to produce an organism. If the germ cells are genetically modified, then of course all the cells in the organism will be genetically modified. This implies that the future generations of this organism will all have the modified gene. This may be a be...

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...mpowers scientists to eliminate disorders from the human genome and will soon allow parents to choose the traits and genetic factors of their children. However, the risks involved in genetic engineering of human genome are far too great. Genetic engineering is unnatural; but it is not bad. Until we have sufficient knowledge on the risks of genetic engineering, the risks to all the future descendants of the individuals outweigh the benefits to the small number of the individuals. The lack of knowledge should limit the advancement of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is all nature can ever give to humanity. One day when scientists actually have the knowledge on genetics, they can stitch chemicals together to create an artificial DNA, just like Dr. Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, who stitches dead body parts together to create an artificial life.

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