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Genetic Engineering & Enhancements

Genetic engineering has emerged -- faster, simpler, and more accessible than anyone had foreseen. The pounding gait of science has, in many ways, outpaced the best efforts of theology, politics, and ethics. Each of us planning to live well into the 21st century can expect to be affected by the ramifications of genetic engineering. Already, in vitro fertilization has become routine, and sex selection before conception is possible for aspiring parents(Schaeffer, 1999, p.15); Genetic enhancements are on the verge of providing mankind with drugs to treat brain disorders like Alzheimer's and epidemics such as the AIDS virus(Williams, 2000, p.9); Total genetic engineering of human embryos is expected to be safe and efficient within the next 50 years(Silver, 1999, p.26). We must form our opinions- and our policies- now.

It is difficult to conceive of a medical or philosophical frontier that lies beyond that of genetic engineering- in our time, we are actually harnessing the power to change the nature of the human species. The ethical implications of this are manifold: In our quest to pin down a "minimum genome"- the basic molecular structure of what is required to build a living organism (Clark, 2000, p.37)- are we placing ourselves at odds with Nature? Are we devaluing the meaning of life as we come to understand the fabled "spark" as a merely physical entity, capable of dissection and reorganization in any private lab? Should we, as a society, strive to regulate the development of biotechnologies? Should human DNA be considered sacred? If we allow biotechnology to flourish, how much genetic engineering is too much? These questions and others challenge the very core of our collective ethics, and test the mettle of our conscience. Determining the prudence, worth, and legality of genetic engineering may well be society's most daunting hurdle: ultimately, the benefits of biotechnics are as tempting as the risks are troubling...

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Genetic Engineering & Enhancements. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 07:09, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1693881.html