Genetic Engineering Argument Essay

Genetic Engineering has recently become a contentious topic within medical and social circles. Controversial topics such as Sex Selection and Designer Babies are linked to Genetic engineering. They are destructive in every circumstance. Genetic Engineering is detrimental towards the individual and all posterity.
Genetic Engineering is harmful because it has produced Gendercide in countries such as China and India. Genetic engineering allows sex selection to become easier. The imbalance between genders continues to rise. Clayton Farris states, “In China the imbalance between sexes was 108 boys to 100 girls in the late 1980s, for the generation of of the early 2000s it was 124 to 100. In some chinese provinces is an unprecedented 130 to 100”(Farris 63).The imbalance between sexes is “unprecedented”. Parents constantly use genetics to get the gender they value. Many parents choose boys in China which leads to the outrageous number of “130 to 100”. Chinese parents value men more than women in their culture. Sex selection gives them the opportunity to get what they want. Their desire sex leads them into Gendercide. Genetic

Engineering give parents an ability they should not have. It proves harmful and is unethical.
Despite the harmful effects of Genetic engineering,Transhumanist believe that Genetic engineering enhances the human race. The World Transhumanist Association defines transhumanism as, “a way of thinking about the future”(World Transhumanist Association). Transhumanist have reason genetic engineering could “expand human capacities”(World Transhumanist Association). They believe people can become beyond human through genetic engineering. “Expand human capacities” suggest that Transhumanist value improving oneself. Transhumanist aim for a genetic enhanced future.
Although Transhumanist argue genetic engineering can improve humanity the World Transhumanist Association makes a poor argument.

Transhumanist claim the individual can plan their own life. Transhumanist value autonomy: “Transhumanist place a high value on autonomy, the ability and right of individual to plan and choose their lives”(World Transhumanist Association). The right for an individual to “plan” their own life through genetic engineering is terrifying. Ethical people should not have the power to genetically enhance or themselves or others. Genetic enthusiasts may not use genetic engineering right. People genetically enhance themselves without any cause. Planning every single commodity in any person's life creates too much power. Great power corrupts the individual. Genetic engineering yields power that any person should not

have.
Designer Babies often lead to misuse and need to be regulated. A rising number of future parents have begun their desire to design their child’s traits: “A recent survey found that about 10 percent of a group for genetic counseling expressed interest in screening for tall stature and that some 13 percent said they would be willing to test for superior intelligence”(Scientific American 33). Parents should not care whether or not their child has “tall stature” or “ superior intelligence”. Loving parents do not dwell on the little traits. They care only for their child no matter the circumstance. The only goal of a parent is to ensure that their child is healthy. Designer babies interfere with that aim.