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Do the benefits of genetic engineering outweigh its dangers
Potential benefits of genetic engineering
Potential benefits of genetic engineering
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Part A:
The Film, GATTACA portrays a society of those of humans where individuals are the products of genetic engineering and their worth is measured solely by the “quality” of their DNA. Today, the genetic discrimination in many workplaces and the use of genetic screening and vitro fertilization of egg cells is comparable to the society of GATTACA.
Firstly, GATTACA depicts our society where many individuals are discriminated against due to their genetic makeup. In the movie, Vincent was denied employment at GATTCA because he had a 99% chance of heart defect and most likely to die at the age of 30 and so he was considered “UNVAILD” for employment due to natural birth (Niccol, 1997). Likewise, several bills have been introduced in the Ontario Legislature such as the private members bill C-536 to modify the Canadian Labour Code to help eliminate genetic discrimination in workplaces (Heim-Myers, 2011). The need and the emergence to present the private Members’ bill to protect people illustrates the inequality in workplaces today in this society towards individuals based on their genetic makeup. In addition, Michio Kaku discusses in “Vision of the future” that in U.S, individuals have been struggling for 12 years to eliminate genetic discrimination and the division created between individuals due to alterations and genetic engineering. Individuals who are unable to afford these alterations and modifications will be at the bottom the social ladder and get discriminated upon while people with the genetic enhancement will be higher up the social hierarchy. (Kaku, 2007). Hence, through Vincent’s character GATTACA portrays our society in which individuals are genetically discriminated against due to their DNA.
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...the creations of got can result in ethical issues such as discrimination. In the movie GATTACA, Anton was genetically engineered at birth through technology that allowed for pre-natal selection and engineering of offsprings to have desired traits (Niccol, 1997). The society in the movie failed to see the consequences of having the ability to alter an offsprings’ genetic makeup. It had created a social division between those that were born through selection and those born naturally which could potentially happen in the future if humans try to modify the creation of God.
In conclusion, one should not try to modify the work of God as it could pose a risk to human health, create discrimination and lead to psychological and emotional distress. Science’s responsibly in this world is not to alter and change God’s handiwork but to research and explore the creations of god.
When one thinks of a society of genetically advanced individuals at first glance it might seem like an advantage, but upon taking a closer look you can see the flaws in these perfect people. The world of Gattaca is superficial and judgmental; the only way to measure the worth of a person is by the wholesomeness of one's blood. They do not know for sure that someone will die or develop a heart condition all they have to work with is a percentage of the chance of it happening. This brands the world of Gattaca as an unfit and inferior world than our own. When a society discriminates against a group of people they lose valuable and productive members of society. In Gattaca the hardest working, most driven person was someone that they thought should
...cs and New Genetics” the ways that Factor X and human dignity spreads throughout society in the future show that it is the moral responsibility of society to continue to show others respect and dignity. Through the use of the pieces, “Human Dignity and Human Reproductive Cloning” by Steven Malby, “Genetic Testing and Its Implications: Human Genetics Researchers Grapple with Ethical Issues” by Isaac Rabino, and “Gender Differences in the Perception of Genetic Engineering Applied to Human Reproduction”,by Carol L. Napolitano and Oladele A. Ogunseitan, the decline on the amount of human dignity found in today's society as well as the regression in Factor X that can be found today compared to times past and how the increase in genetic engineering has greater caused for even more hurdles, for the spread of human dignity and Factor X to all members of society, to overcome.
Andrew Niccol’s 1997 film Gattaca supports the belief that nature, despite its defects, is preferable to a flawless genetically engineered existence. This idea is explored through the character of Vincent who exhibits desire, resilience and determination, natural ‘human’ elements that cannot be manufactured and are seemingly not present in the ‘faultless’ future that is presented in Gattaca. These characteristics appear to be contrasted by the other characters in the film, such as Anton and the conforming Irene, who are perceived to be ‘flawless’ in the context of their surroundings but are quite mechanical and emotionless. This is due to the fact that whilst they are genetically ‘perfect’, they do not seem to possess the human qualities, such as the endeavor or the spirit that Vincent embodies.
In modern times we are brought face-to-face with the tangible issue of engineered-creation and the hopes and fears it inspires. It is a common hope that science should be able to mimic the abilities and power of the God that created us. However, with respect to Mary Shelley's famous novel, "Frankenstein," one will find that the desire to play god is met with dire consequences.
The use of genetic modification in enhancing human characteristics has brought about negative issues, such as discrimination, ethical issues and corruption. With this in mind, genetic modification has benefitted humans immensely; developing the knowledge of the human mind, preventing hereditary diseases and improving the physical attributes of individuals. Nevertheless, the disadvantages surrounding the enhancement of human characteristics through genetic means outweigh the advantages as portrayed by the film and text, “Gattaca” and “Flowers for Algernon” respectively. In conclusion, the enhancement of human characteristics through genetic means should be strictly advocated against.
The ethics behind genetic engineering have been discussed and argued for years now. Some arguing points often include competitive advantages, playing God, and the polarization of society, but Sandel takes a different approach in explaining society’s “unease” with the morality of genetic engineering. Broadcasted through several examples throughout the book, Sandel explains that genetic engineering is immoral because it takes away what makes us human and makes us something else. He states that by taking control of our genetic makeup, or the makeup of our progeny, we lose our human dignity and humility. Our hunger for control will lead to the loss of appreciation for natural gifts, whether they are certain talents, inherited from the genetic lottery, or the gift of life itself.
This is the natural fallacy genetic engineering creates in the new world seen in Gattaca. We know this because in the film the main character, Vincent, who uses another man named Jerome Morrow’s D.N.A and identity to rise up the ranks within Gattaca’s staff. He does this because genetic engineering pre-determines every aspect of one’s life that is scientifically possible. This would include diseases, life expectancy, cause of death, jobs/careers you can have and even who you should marry all from a sample of blood given when first born. Vincent’s D.N.A to others deemed him chronically ill, making him invalid, meaning that there would be very little opportunities for him in life; though he felt he can do things just as well as anyone. It is in Gattaca that we can look at genetic engineering as determining one’s instrumental worth to
Savulescu, Julian. “Genetic Interventions and the Ethics of Human Beings.” Readings in the Philosophy of Technology. Ed. David Kaplan. 2nd ed. Lanham: Roman & Littlefield, 2009. 417-430.
In today’s modern age science is moving at a rapid pace; one of those scientific fields that has taken the largest leaps is that of genetics. When genetics first comes to mind, many of us think of it as a type of science fiction, or a mystical dream. Yet genetics is here, it is real, and has numerous ethical implications.
The lack of knowledge has always tricked people because they only focused on the negative perspective of genetic engineering and not the positive perspective. In this paper, I will be talking about how Genetic engineering is connected to Brave New World, how the history of genetic engineering impacts the world, how genetic engineering works, how people opinions are influenced, how the side effects can be devastating, how the genetic engineering can be beneficial for the society and also how the ethical issues affect people’s perspective. Brave New World is a city that produces mechanical offspring and manipulates science to genetically modify citizens. In the novel, Brave New World, the citizens are all genetically modified.
Genes are, basically, the blueprints of our body which are passed down from generation to generation. Through the exploration of these inherited materials, scientists have ventured into the recent, and rather controversial, field of genetic engineering. It is described as the "artificial modification of the genetic code of a living organism", and involves the "manipulation and alteration of inborn characteristics" by humans (Lanza). Like many other issues, genetic engineering has sparked a heated debate. Some people believe that it has the potential to become the new "miracle tool" of medicine. To others, this new technology borders on the realm of immorality, and is an omen of the danger to come, and are firmly convinced that this human intervention into nature is unethical, and will bring about the destruction of mankind (Lanza).
Many atheists have used science as a way to disapprove the existence of God. Science is not an accurate way of disapproving the existence of God(2). Scient...
...wever, in the best interest of advancing education and an enlightened society, science must be pursued outside of the realm of faith and religion. There are obvious faith-based and untestable aspects of religion, but to interfere and cross over into everyday affairs of knowledge should not occur in the informational age. This overbearing aspect of the Church’s influence was put in check with the scientific era, and the Scientific Revolution in a sense established the facet of logic in society, which allows us to not only live more efficiently, but intelligently as well. It should not take away from the faith aspect of religion, but serve to enhance it.
The quality of the future population, and of ones own country in particular, should be a matter of deep concern to all. Throughout history, there have been numerous political leaders and scientific advancements aimed at modifying and bettering the human race. This process is completed through something infamously known as eugenics; the science used to control the selection of genes and reproduction. ‘The Cutie” by Greg Egan explores many underlying issues with eugenics, most notably the moral and ethical implications of the process. The science of eugenics may be considered ethical as its end goal is to better future generations; leaving behind desirable traits such as health, intelligence, and noble character; inversely, it may be considered unethical as it aims to create a perfect or superhuman being, not only ignores but violates human rights, and may be used for racial and genetic hygiene; a form of discrimination. It is for this that eugenics is considered to be a great ethical and moral failure in modern society.