Genetic engineering humans is a very controversial topic. Even genetically engineering plants and animals is considered inhumane by some people. But is this so? If we have the power to save, elongate, and purify the lives of those around us, why should we not do it at once? What is stopping us? First off, genetic engineering is “The deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material.” This means that we look into a creature's genetic code, and manipulate it to fit our needs. Examples of this are bioluminescent mice: mice that have the genetic code from a jellyfish that allows them to glow under a U.V light. This of course is not the lifesaving technology that we think of when we hear “Genetic Engineering”, but it is a huge leap for scientists: being able to change the genetic code of a species is no small feat.
Now that scientists know that it works with everyday animals, the next step of course would be human trials. The benefits of this technology will save lives. But there is a problem. Human experiments are always considered inhumane, or unethical. Many people are opposed to the thought of any human being subjected to experiments. Humans believe that you should not conduct genetic experiments on sentient beings, because of safety issues and morals. A seal does not push his fellow seal into the ocean to test if it is safe. They do everything they can before putting themselves in harm's way.
In this way we are just now finding the ocean. We do not know if it is safe or not. We do not know what will happen if we go into the water. But something we can all agree on is the fact that we don’t push each other in.
On the flip side, some people believe that if we don’t do human experiments, we won’t get very far. They believe that moral dilemmas are a small price to pay for curing every disease, enhancing the length of life, and stopping every genetic disorder and disability.
I thought a great deal on this matter. And after finding all of the ways humans would be benefited in the process, I believed that a few ethical concerns would be no problem. But, I thought some more, and realized that these would be actual living human beings, not a rat in a cage, but a human with their whole life laid out in front of them. A life, where they could do anything they want, or anything they feel. Humans are born with amazing choices and rights, and I realized that I could not risk taking any of that away.
https://www.forbes.com/2001/07/26/0726gfp.html?sh=72b33f766508
Do you think that a powerful tool like genetic engineering should have been given to humans, or do you think we will end up abusing this power?
Do you think that Genetic experiments are ethical? Why or why not.
Do you think that in the near future we will have genetically enhanced people?
Replies
Great topic choice and super job Nathan!!
I think that even though genetic engineering is interesting and could benefit us it shouldn't be used on humans unless absolutely necessary. The reason why is because it kind of goes along with changing people's learning abilities and personalities to make them how parents want them. It’s like changing the person entirely. The other side would be medical reasons, I think that still it shouldn’t be done since people might start living longer and also we’d start to lose a natural killer which would be diseases and that could cause even more overpopulation.
I think that genetic engineering would absolutly be abused by people, who wouldn't want themselves or their child to be smarter, faster, better than everyone else? But it would most likely cost an arm and a leg to be genetically engineered, so only the richest would be able to do it. I see this as a problem because if the rich are getting more unfair advantages in the world it would be harder for people born to poor families to move up the ranks of society. It would eventually end up creating a huge gap between the rich and the poor, resulting in a distopian society. For these reasons, I find genetic engineering unethical.
If we start using genetic engineering for anything other than killing diseases or cancer, then we will be abusing the power. Genetic experiments are only ethical if the test subject fully understands what is happening to them. I think there is a good chance that people will start going through genetic engineering sometime in the next 50 years.
I think genetic experiments could be ethical if used in the right manner. Yes it will kill diseases and sicknesses but would they over use it for the wrong reasons. It would or could result in parents designing kids exactly how they want them to be. Which to me is just abusing the system its one thing if it is to kill and illness or disease but not creating people how you want them.
Changing someone to look how you want them to is defidently inhumane. And, I could see parents using this tech to chang ehow they look, basically making they unoriginal and ununique. Which defeats the whole purpose of being human.
I think that genetic experiments could be ethical if they are used the proper way Or the right way like to cure cancer or cure diseases.One other thing is to help out with surgeries But if it ends up turning out bad then they should not use it. if i was to use it i would use it to cure cancer.
I think that in the near future we will have genetically enhanced people. I think that we will have genetically enhanced people because of the scientists. I believe that in that in time they will have figured out how to genetically enhance people like curing diseases but it will take a lot of time to perfect this methed. I also beleve this because poeple have acses to the equeptment they need to make this posseble.
I think that genetic experiments should be used because we can not just use it on humans without it being previously tested. We do not truly have genetically advanced people, however, we do have brain function enhancers and steriods/ suppliments that people use for exersize and lifting to get bigger faster.
Genetic experiments on animals may seem more ethical. But if we think about it, it is still just expermienting on a harmless creature. We are still putting a living, breathing creature through a process we don't fully understand. But I think that it would be worth it if we manage to cure diseases.
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