Differences Between Genetic Therapy And Genetic Enhancement

In this paper I will make an argument between genetic therapy and genetic enhancement. My argument for genetic therapy will state that it should be used, as for genetic enhancement it should be used but to an extent. However, when making the argument as to why genetic enhancement should not be fully used, I will come across to stating some accepted enhancements. Genetic therapy and genetic enhancement sound similar, however they do have their differences. The difference between genetic therapy and genetic enhancement is that genetic therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent diseases as well as to correct or reconstitutes missing genetic functions (Chadwick, 207). Meaning that this technique allows doctors to insert certain genes that will help alter the genome of a disease rather than selecting it out all at once. Under the practice of genetic therapy, there is somatic therapy and

Some objections to my statements above is Eugenics. If genetic engineering were used to stop having children that had some diseases, such as down syndrome, or were deaf, then the use of genetic engineering would soon “eliminate” this grouping of people. For example if someone were having a child but wanted to be screened to see if the fetus was carrying such disease, would the parents decide to abort or to continue with the pregnancy and take care of such child with needs. But if parents wanted to see which embryo has such disease and they only want the healthy ones, would that say something about what they think about people within that community. If parents were to do that they would be seen as parents who are selfish and would not want to care for someone in need because of “how much work it is” or “how expensive” it is in order to care for such child. This is when I believe that genetic engineering should draw the line as to what it used