Ethical and moral issues of Genetic Engineering

Genetics by far has become the most dominant subject of interest for many scientists. Its deep mysteries interest and puzzle many who work with genetics and its branching sciences. When Mendel first discovered that traits were inherited from parent to offspring and that this was controlled by certain laws, it gave birth to the study of genetics. Since then, genetics has developed itself into one of the most powerful aspects of day to day life. From understanding simple inheritance of traits and diseases, genetics is now concerned with genetically engineered plants, fruits and sometimes controversial topics such as human genome project, making of a super human and cloning.

When we think about the future of genetics, we tend to think of all the things that were believed to be impossible once upon a time. Things that were believed unlikely to happen are now happening. Genetics can cure diseases, it can change lives, it can cut down on fertilizer costs for plants etc. There are so many advantages when it comes to advancing in genetics, but just like the world balances on good and the evil, genetics and its uses can be challenged ethically and morally. For example, there are certain things related to genetics and its related sciences that are frowned upon by religious groups and certain other groups. Here I will show you some of the benefits of genetic engineering and how it’s ethically challenged.

Life expectancy: tests are now done on worms with concerns on increasing life span of some earth worms. With a single alteration of a gene, the worms’ enzyme activity changes and life span increases. This could easily affect our lives in the future. With more genetic research, this could apply to humans and someday genetics might be able to change lives of many. Humans will be able to live longer. Retirement ages will differ; elderly with more experience will now be preferred by companies. People in general will be happier, healthier and pleasant.

But with such changes, there will be drastic social fluctuations. There will be more elderly in the society. People with age get weak and now they will have to live longer with all the weaknesses. This will be a burden upon them. Ethically, we should ask ourselves, is this just a starting brick to creating a slave race that would enable us humans to exploit that certain race. If it’s possible to change life expectancy, then it would be possible to change all sorts of genes that would control other features. This would no doubt create social gaps and possibly bring about more differences amongst us humans.

Genetic engineering: today a lot of plants have been genetically modified to resist disease and pests. Animals and plants can be 'tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO² and reduce the threat of global warming. Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example. Such breakthroughs are economically very sound; it can greatly reduce labor costs and other costs such as pesticide costs etc.GM fruits can be sold at a lower rate but with all that comes many disadvantages too. Local farmers will not benefit from this and will suffer economically. Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically modified genes may alter food chains and effect nature. Genetic engineering also has many ethical and moral issues. So when we think of this ethically, it’s pretty clear that we are crossing the boundaries. To a group, it’s a violation of Gods laws, to some others it’s unnatural and immoral. We are not yet confident about the long term effects of releasing the transgenic organism to the environment. It might be harmful to the rest of the bio-life and it might be too big of a risk to take.

Genetics could predict diseases and help avoid a genetically inherited disease (gene therapy): In the future, with genetic mapping, we will be able to detect and identify those genes that cause disease in humans. We will have a disease free society or almost a disease free society with such advances in genetics. People will live longer and happily. But even with that comes ethical issues. Some religious groups claim that people are taking gods matters into their own hands. This is just a religious concern and not a major disadvantage. Like mentioned above, genetic mapping can selectively breed a superior or an inferior race which could be controlled by another race. It’s very immoral to play around with genes which will govern the rest of a person’s life. For example, a mistake that would lead to a genetic disease could be paid for by that genetically modified human for the rest of his life

Usage of fruit flies and fish to study human genes: Fruit flies and fish have genes that are similar to human genes. The scientists choose to study the fruit fly because they have many genes with the same functions as human genes. Defects in the fly's gene that is the equivalent of the genes in humans that cause brain diseases cause the flies to lose brain function as they age, the same way the diseases do in humans. This is important to humans because of Alzheimer's Parkinson's and many other motor neurone diseases. There are no significant disadvantages but one could be animal testing which is not acceptable. Research also consumes a lot of money, animals and equipment must be handled with care and maintained. Most of these are expensive. And if a cure is not found, it will be a waste of money. 

Use of mice and other animals for testing is no doubt an ongoing controversial topic at large. It’s morally and ethically very wrong. They deserve to live as we do and we human beings we are suppose to make sure that happens. It’s a known fact that most people make use of animal testing for mere curiosity and has no scientific base to it. Most animals are subjected to excruciating pain which is frowned upon by many welfare and religious groups. Let’s just hope science will find ways to move around animal testing

In my opinion, all the point I mentioned above have its own advantages and disadvantages. Today most of the people are just looking at the advantages and if there is a gain, they will not consider any ethical or moral issue which comes with it. What I suggest is that there should be a standard, where the people needs to consider the values of ethics and to do what is best for the mankind in the long run. The links which I have posted below will give you more information on these topics.

Sources

• Micheal K Reiss, (2001). Improving Nature: The science and ethics of genetic engineering. . (), pp.
• D Bruce, A Bruce, (1998). Engineering Genesis: the ethics of genetic engineering in non human species. 1st ed. London: .