One experiment that has had a huge positive impact on society, but also has the potential to result in unethical consequences is genetic engineering.
Scientists have been studying our DNA to detect mutations, identify our risk for certain diseases, and detect our inherited traits for medical, genealogical, and even forensic purposes. It's main goal, however, is to identify "key" genes in the human DNA, which control the expression of specific traits and diseases, so that they could be edited, corrected, and manipulated.
Through the years, these experiments has lead to several advancements that has benefited society.
In medicine, it has helped geneticists develop new cures and therapies to cure specific diseases. It has also helped prospective parents better prepare for the birth of their babies with newborn screening. It has even helped individuals identify their risk for certain diseases, so they can prepare accordingly. In the future, the hope is that through genetic engineering, scientists can eventually eradicate disease and extend the human lifespan.
In other fields, it has also helped improve food security through the development of genetically engineered crops and farm animals. And biologists today believe that with genetic engineering, the possibility of resurrecting formerly extinct animals like the mammoth or dodo is not far behind.
Despite these positive impacts, our genetic engineering experiments are still fraught with issues and dilemmas that can render it unethical.
One of the biggest ethical issues surrounding genetic engineering is the slippery slope it presents toward "designer babies", and eventually, eugenics where selective breeding is used to engineer a superior race. The argument is that while genetic engineering can help prevent diseases linked to faulty DNA, it also predisposes the population to the idea of "designer babies", where parents can pick and choose the traits they want for their offspring.
Given how expensive these procedures could be, this could lead to a society where rich people's children will be biologically superior over their middle class counterparts. And if taken a few steps further, the events of the 1997 sci-fi film Gattaca about a "not too distant future" where nearly everyone has been genetically-engineered, may not be too far fetched.
And finally, one of the breakthroughs scientists are hoping to achieve is the ability to edit human germline cells, such that any enhancements done on a person can be carried over to his or her offspring, as well.
This could be considered unethical because while the person gave his consent to have his DNA changed, his offspring did not. So, this begs the question of how far should we go in our attempts to improve our DNA.
It is clear that genetic engineering is one experiment that has had a huge impact on society. From securing our food source to potentially eradicating diseases and creating a healthier population with a longer lifespan. However, given its potentially unethical consequences, genetic engineering is also a field where we should thread lightly.
One experiment that has had a huge positive impact on society, but also has the potential to result in unethical consequences is genetic engineering.
Scientists have been studying our DNA to detect mutations, identify our risk for certain diseases, and detect our inherited traits for medical, genealogical, and even forensic purposes. It's main goal, however, is to identify "key" genes in the human DNA, which control the expression of specific traits and diseases, so that they could be edited, corrected, and manipulated.
Through the years, these experiments has lead to several advancements that has benefited society.
In medicine, it has helped geneticists develop new cures and therapies to cure specific diseases. It has also helped prospective parents better prepare for the birth of their babies with newborn screening. It has even helped individuals identify their risk for certain diseases, so they can prepare accordingly. In the future, the hope is that through genetic engineering, scientists can eventually eradicate disease and extend the human lifespan.
In other fields, it has also helped improve food security through the development of genetically engineered crops and farm animals. And biologists today believe that with genetic engineering, the possibility of resurrecting formerly extinct animals like the mammoth or dodo is not far behind.
Despite these positive impacts, our genetic engineering experiments are still fraught with issues and dilemmas that can render it unethical.
One of the biggest ethical issues surrounding genetic engineering is the slippery slope it presents toward "designer babies", and eventually, eugenics where selective breeding is used to engineer a superior race. The argument is that while genetic engineering can help prevent diseases linked to faulty DNA, it also predisposes the population to the idea of "designer babies", where parents can pick and choose the traits they want for their offspring.
Given how expensive these procedures could be, this could lead to a society where rich people's children will be biologically superior over their middle class counterparts. And if taken a few steps further, the events of the 1997 sci-fi film Gattaca about a "not too distant future" where nearly everyone has been genetically-engineered, may not be too far fetched.
And finally, one of the breakthroughs scientists are hoping to achieve is the ability to edit human germline cells, such that any enhancements done on a person can be carried over to his or her offspring, as well.
This could be considered unethical because while the person gave his consent to have his DNA changed, his offspring did not. So, this begs the question of how far should we go in our attempts to improve our DNA.
It is clear that genetic engineering is one experiment that has had a huge impact on society. From securing our food source to potentially eradicating diseases and creating a healthier population with a longer lifespan. However, given its potentially unethical consequences, genetic engineering is also a field where we should thread lightly.
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