Analysis Of Genetic Modification And Genetic Determinism

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In their research article, “Genetic modification and genetic determinism”, David B. Resnik and Daniel B. Vorhaus argue that all the nonconsequentialist arguments against genetic modification are faulty because of the assumption that all the traits are strongly genetically determined, which is not the case. Resnik and Vorhaus dispel four arguments against genetic modification one-by-one. The freedom argument represents three claims: genetic modification prevents the person who has been modified from making free choices related to the modified trait, limits the range of behaviors and life plans, and interferes with the person 's ability to make free choices by increasing parental expectations and demands (Resnik & Vorhaus 5). The authors find this argument not convincing, as genes are simply not “powerful” enough to deprive a person of free choice, career and life options. In addition to that, they argue that parental control depends not on genetic procedure itself, but rather on parents’ basic knowledge of what the results of the modification should be. In a similar fashion, the giftedness arguments, which states that “Children are no longer viewed as gifts, but as …show more content…

In reality, many people who have not been “born” musicians or athletes have made greater accomplishments than those who were genetically endowed. In addition to that, naturally obtained genes through traditional reproduction are random, and, thus, are regarded as a gift. This randomness and the fact that even people with poor genetics can achieve success is what makes a person’s accomplishments truly authentic. Genetic modification has a potential to remove both of these factors of authenticity. In that way, Resnik and Vorhaus’s claim about authenticity of our accomplishments is not entirely

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