Human genetic modification

Human genetic modification has been discussed for decades, but now that it is becoming a process that could be undertaken rather than a mere speculation, a number of fears have emerged, leading to efforts to curtail further research in this area. There are a number of reasons why this fear has developed, and these fears were actually manifested long before genetic engineering was possible. They can be seen in ancient stories about human beings creating life in unnatural ways, from the ancient story of the Golem to the novel Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley from early in the nineteenth century. The essential fear involved is the fear of anything considered unnatural, as if this were an action taken against the will of God. More recently, these fears have taken the form of ethical concerns about how new technologies might be used to curtail further the rights of minority groups, the poor, and those considered handicapped. It may also be that the many science fiction movies produced over the years showing science out of control have contributed to these fears, but those films themselves take their cue from deep-seated concerns in the human psyche about human alteration, about being made into something inhuman, and about unnatural sexual actions, under which many would include genetic modification.

The issue has been given considerable attention recently because of advances in deciphering the genetic code, and it has also been brought to the fore with the debate over cloning

Related Essays

Genetic Modification Concerns .... It also means the foods are safer for human consumption because of the reduced use of toxic pesticides and herbicides. Genetic modification can also be used to .... (1991 8 )

Genetic Modification of Plants .... It also means the foods are safer for human consumption because of the reduced use of toxic pesticides and herbicides. Genetic modification can also be used to .... (1991 8 )

Genetically Modified Food .... Beyond issues of public perception of food, understanding the science behind genetic modification can help us understand possible implications for human health .... (2000 8 )

Eugenics Movement The eugenics movement started at t .... Human genetic modification has been discussed for decades, but now that it is becoming a process that could be undertaken rather than a mere speculation, a .... (2578 10 )

Our Posthuman Future Francis Fukuyama is a provo .... Modification of human behavior (as well as our bodies .... amazing scientific breakthroughs as the Human Genome Project .... designed to alter one's own genetic makeup. .... (1304 5 )

nt between themselves and the dominant social group or class. This fear intermixes with the concern about using an unnatural procedure in the process of in-vitro fertilization, which began in 1978 with the birth of Louise Brown. This marked the beginning of a new hope for couples frustrated by their inability to conceive, and indeed, thousands of children have been born since because of this technology. However, this fact alone has contributed to social concerns. For one thing, how this procedure is paid for varies from place to place. Some countries pay the cost, while in other regions, state coverage is not routine and may be completely absent. The procedure then becomes one that come can afford and come cannot, and this then becomes another manifestation of the conflict between the haves and have-nots ("Information Versus Choice in Infertility Treatment" 1895). Some of the fears have a clear founding in reality, though the fear may dissipate with time. People tend to resist change, for instance, and to consider all that they might lose because of a change. Often, though, they find that the change is not as devastating as they feared and that the change is even to the good. This may be the case with human genetic engin

Category: Science - H