The Genome Project-Write's Ethical Dilemmas

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if everyone was smart, athletic, and beautiful? Well, recently, scientists have been experimenting with human DNA to make a “better” person. Mostly all of these embryos died off, and those who lived were the same as your average human (OI) . I do not believe it is morally right to use human DNA and genes to alter the appearance and abilities of people. Although people may argue otherwise, I know that this is not right.

In it’s initial chapters, this book pay close attention to the medicine and science behind human genome modification. This sets the foundation for the ethical and religious concerns that are discussed later in the book regarding the issue. The idea of altering the genome for the purpose of human enhancements is also addressed in the book. The author concludes by offering a list of regulatory options.

Genetic engineering is the figurehead of the ethical concerns of scientists in the 21st century. Nothing is more engrossed with criticism and dislike than the idea of altering the baseline for living organisms. Many people are skeptical of genetic engineering due to the versatility it exhibits. A scientist could use a genetic editing tool, such as CRISPR, to remove the genes for a hereditary disease in an embryo, but they could also utilize it to alter the physical characteristics of a human baby. This thought provoked the flood gates of ethics to unleash a multitude of unanswered questions and concerns about the usage and further development of genetic engineering. The field of genetic engineering is

Genetic engineering has already started to be most helpful in the field of medicine. The map of the human genome offers many cures and potentially successful medical procedures. By creating artificial chromosomes, scientists may be able to replace diseased inherited traits with functional ones. Determining the genetic make up of viruses such as the HIV virus that

Although the intentions of genetically modifying DNA in human embryos is aimed to rid society of genetic defects, it is still essential that this scientific discovery remains ethical. In an article on NPR.org, Rob Stein describes an experiment that scientists have been conducting in which they modify human DNA in order to eliminate life threatening genetic diseases that could be passed on for generations (Stein). In Portland, at Oregon Health & Science University, Paula Amato, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, explains “that their work is aimed at preventing terrible diseases, not creating genetically enhanced people...much more research is needed to confirm the technique is safe and effective before anyone tries to make a baby this way”(Stein). Because scientists like Amato realize their research is controversial, they are taking every precaution to assure what they are doing is morally correct, they are not intending to corrupt society. Although their intentions are good, it is their job to make sure their research is being used in an ethical way. If not, millions of people, who are already obsessed with the idea of perfection, will be able to do something about

The ethical debate concerning biotechnological exploration into genetic cloning has created a monster in itself. A multitude of ethical questions arises when considering the effect of creating a genetically engineered human being. Does man or science have the right to create life through unnatural means? Should morality dictate these technological advancements and their effects on society? The questions and concerns are infinite, but so to are the curiosities, which continue to perpetuate the advancement of biotechnological science. In order to contemplate the effects that science can have on our society we can look back in history and literature to uncover the potentiality of our future

“Advances in genetic science could change the basic nature of human beings by allowing people to alter their genetic makeup or the genetic makeup of their children” (Kahn). Since editing human genes is an extremely controversial topic with great consequences, laws concerning gene editing vary worldwide. In the United States there is no ban on gene editing, however, the government cannot fund embryo modification. Altering human genes is wrong because it could lead to societal problems, create new genetic diseases, and it is immoral.

This could be illustrated in the Human Genome Project, which mapped all human genes in order to eventually understand the effect of each gene in human behaviour. Wallace (2004) claims that the Human Genome Project is perhaps not ethically neutral. Misuse of ethically sensible data was already seen in Nazi Germany and the eugenic policies in many modern societies with practices such as sterilization of individuals thought to be inferior. This should serve as a warning to modern geneticists. First of all genetic research is by nature correlational, which means that it is not possible to state a clear cause-effect relationship between genes and disorders like depression. Secondly, researchers are far from being able to determine the specific role of genes in psychiatric disorders.

Today’s society has an ever growing thirst for knowledge as we have for many hundreds of years now. Scientists work around the clock studying the affects of nearly everything they can think of to conduct experiments on. This quest for knowledge is the supposed start to a better life for man kind and ultimately a world without disease or hunger. The human genome project is one that has been going on for about 20 years. This project set out to map, down to the last detail, every part of the human DNA structure (“Human”). The project has recently been completed and the scientists are now starting another project with their newly found information, to cure mankind of its ailments.

On the last years, genetic technology have been improving. The research carried out in this area are focused on the early diagnosis of diseases. Moreover, manipulation of genes in the future provides a critical tool for eliminating fatal diseases to humans. Also humans will be able to manipulate genes from birth. But the real question is although can be perform it, we allow it? Everything possible is ethically permissible? Some dramatic demonstrations of genetic modification have been made with mice and other animals, however, evidence in humans are generally considered outside the ethical boundaries. Gregory Stock, director of the Program on Medicine, Technology, and Society at UCLA and author of Redesigning Humans, in his article “Choosing Our Genes” (2012) argues the use of technology to change humans genetic in order to avoid imperfections or diseases. Stock shows genetic engineering as a very useful technology and that applying it on the future to humans, positive results they will gain. Stocks article is effective, since he gives good reasons why using genetic technology would provide several benefits that people wish to have.

The ethical, social, and legal issues surrounding the Human Genome Project are complex and controversial (Walker & Morrissey, 2014). The creation of a data repository where genetic information can be shared provides the opportunity for researchers to further studies regarding genetic diseases and the means to treat or prevent these conditions. However, there are legal, social, and ethical issues associated with the provision of genetic information via a database, albeit the information is blinded (Zarate et al., 2016). • What methodology will be utilized to determine what is ethical and legal regarding the use of information obtained from genetic databases? • What entity will determine the policies, laws, and ethics that govern the procurement,

Science has developed tremendously in the last hundred years and the way that scientists are making new discoveries every day. Scientists in more recent years have discovered the idea of DNA and the genes that are composed within. Most people would agree that learning about genes and how they can be corrected to help the sick or help an infant not to get an inherited disease would be astounding. The article, “Gene Regime” written by Francis Fukuyama describes how important DNA and genes are with all living things and the moral issues that come with new discoveries. However, these new discoveries are also a part of moral dangers of gene therapy, including individualizing embryos to be “perfect”, human cloning, and the creation of human-animal

The advancement of gene editing is generating fear in the human population, as the possibility to ruin human evolution becomes a reality. Should we be permitted to collect the human genome data from individuals to manipulate and purify at the cost of ethical ideals? The notion of right and wrong becomes the most humble ethical rule to be violated on the premise that we supplement ourselves into evolution, infringing upon the biological system that dictates our world. We in life follow a simple path of life and death but, by advancing technology in gene editing we can produce an ideal perfect person.

Ethics are going to interfere in sciences due to future developments in genetic engineering. As the research in the field of transgenics continues with plants and bacteria, the same isn’t true with animals. Recently, the discovery of genomics has opened a door where the common sense and the ethics have blocked: The possibility of creating modified humans. A professor of practical ethics at the University of Oxford, Savulescu (2014) states that humans “have a moral obligation” to improve themselves, and since genetic engineering are serving for this purpose, the humanity shall not avoid this. However, the ethics behind this seems more complicated than it is, because, besides the fact that for now this is scientific fiction, the science is getting closer to a reality, and it breaks the common sense of creating a new life. Consequently, changes ought to be done to those genetic modifications happen.

Genetic engineering is an issue that involves ethical, moral and social choices. With breakthrough research of human genetic engineering and experiments in DNA in medicine, pharmacology, and reproductive technology, DNA a deoxyribonucleic acid, that has a self-replicating chromosomes cell that has genetic information that can be used for to divide, reproduce DNA molecules, that has been used in bioengineering for