Ethical and Social Problems Attached With Genetic Engineering - Term Paper Example

Designer Babies Genetic Engineering Table of Contents I. Introduction ……………………………………………………………….. 3 II. Thesis Statement ………………………………………………………… 3 III. Definition of Genetic Engineering …………………………………….. 3 IV. Legality of Genetic Engineering in the United States ……………….. 4 V. Ethical and Social Problems Attached with Genetic Engineering ….. 5 VI. Conclusion ………………………………………………………………… 7 References ………………………………………………………………………… 8 Introduction The study on genetic engineering1, also known as the application of a direct manipulation on the organism’s genes, started back in 1960s. In line with the scientific breakthrough of genetic engineering, the study on gene therapy, stem cell research, and cloning became very popular. Through genetic engineering, it is now possible to clone another animal or human being, modify the physical appearance of a person, generate food, prevent future illnesses, or to enable the parents to choose the sex and appearance of their preferred child. Despite the success of genetic engineering technology, the subject matter remains very controversial because of the legal, ethical and social issues attached to it. To enable us to understand the controversy behind genetic engineering, the researcher will first define the meaning of genetic engineering followed by discussing the legal, ethical and social problems and consequences related to genetic engineering. Prior to conclusion, the researcher will provide situational examples as a way of examining the depth of its consequences over the lives of the people. Thesis Statement “The ethical and social problems behind the study and practices of gene modification” Definition of Genetic Engineering The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2008) defined genetic engineering as the transfer of individual genes between unrelated species by using recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques. It means that the genes of any living organism can be transferred to another living organism via rDNA techniques. Legality of Genetic Engineering in the United States Debate arises after the first cloned sheep named Dolly back in 1997. (CNN Interactive, 1997) The technical problem attached with cloning causes most of the clones to die either during the gestation stage or right after birth. It is also believed that surviving clones could develop into further physiological as well as genetic problems such as severe respiratory, immune system and circulatory defects; as well as the malformation of internal organs like the brain and kidney since Dolly eventually developed a lung infection in 2003. (Magner, 2006; Kolata, 2003) In line with this matter, the U.S. House of Representatives announced a total federal ban on human cloning. Under the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001, the U.S. government imposed a $1 million fine and 10 years imprisonment to anyone who violates this order. (Mackay, 2006) Today, there is no U.S. laws or regulations that prohibits all kinds of cloning research such as the human IVF and stem cells. A year after the first IVF baby was born in July 1978, the Ethics Advisory Board (EAB)2 reported that IVF research is acceptable in terms of ethical standpoint. After the EAB was dissolved in 1980, Revitalization Act of 1993 was established requiring further EAB review of the IVF proposals. (Johnson, 2003) Ethical and Social Problems Attached with Genetic Engineering The study of genetic engineering includes the choice between the use of embryonic stem cell and adult stem cells. Medical researchers believe that stem cell research can be the answer to many human diseases since several research studies show that stem cell technologies could provide effective treatments for diseases like: cancer via bone marrow transplant (Kamada et al., 2005; Elaine, 2004), leukemia (Science Daily, 2004a), muscle damage (Science Daily, 2004b), spinal cord injuries (Klein & Svendsen, 2005), and Parkinson’s disease (Wahlberg, 2005). Despite the potential health benefits that genetic engineering promises, the individual perception of people in the United States with regards to this technology is divided between the religious and non-religious groups. Many people, especially the religious ones, believe that embryonic stem cell research and practices is unethical because scientists make use of a combined human egg and sperm cell along with their studies. In line with the different perception of people, there is a possibility for some in vitro babies to face some social problems coming from those individuals who are strongly against the practice of genetic engineering. For example: religious people believe that human life is already formed 24 hours after the time of conception. The fertilization process develops from an embryo into a fetus, and eventually into a child. The church strongly believes that at the time the egg and sperm merge, it forms a new genotype which is considered as the biological proof of the beginning of the human life. The church assumes the correlative presumption that a soul is already present in the ‘blastocyst’. In line with this matter, the Catholic Church’s opposition to the embryonic stem-cell research clearly revolves around the traditional ‘respect-for-life.’ (Donum Vitae, 1987) For this reason, the human embryo should never be allowed to be destroyed in any research studies nor should embryos be generated for such purposes. On the contrary, some non-religious people argue that a blastocyst is not yet an individual. These individuals claim that a blastocyst is just a living organism that contains human genetic code; but not yet a person. In line with this statement, some people believe that killing the human blastocyst is not a murder because there is no personal subject to experience the pain involved. This is the same reason why many people are behind the practice of pro-stem cell research. The fact that the Catholic churches do not agree with this point-of-view give rise to the major conflict between the genetic engineering technology and the church. In the case of In Vitro fertilization, among the moral issues involved in this practice is the dilemma over the leftover embryos; the loss of embryos that is not implanted into a womb of a woman; the unmarried women who seeks pregnancy; the use of sperm or egg donors; and the increasing separation between biological and relational aspect related to the reproductive technologies. (Ciabal, 2003) The use of adult stem cells does not involve wastage present in the embryonic stem cell technology. However, more research and study is required for it to be officially successful. For this reason, many people argued that the study of stem cell research should focus on the adult stem cells. Once the adult stem cell becomes successful, the embryonic stem cells can be totally eliminated as well as putting an end to a major ethical problem. In the case of human cloning, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC)3 announced that this technology is subject to ethical, social and legal issues because of the scientific evidences that this method is not safe to either the mother or baby. Conclusion I believe that genetic engineering technology as well as the church meant well for the health and overall well-being of our next generation. Even though President Bush financially supports the stem cell research (Friend, 2001), there should be a limit towards the use of these technologies. It is also necessary to weigh health benefits with the moral and ethical issues behind this technology. For example, cloning another person may result to moral damages particularly on the person who is unaware of himself/herself being cloned. In the case of federal funding which was released by President Bush for embryonic stem cell, it is possible to refocused on the government funding to the study of the adult stem cell in order to minimize and avoid the ethical issues behind the use of human embryo in the genetic engineering research studies. In the process, it is possible that the church’s opposition with regards to the moral issues attached with the embryonic stem cells will be minimized. As a result, we could end up developing a more acceptable way of curing diseases related to bone marrow transplant, Parkinson’s disease, leukemia, spinal cord injuries, and muscle damage among others. Personally, I do not support the technology on designer babies due to the ethical dilemmas and negative social impact of developing abnormal babies (physical deformities and poor health conditions) to our society. Aside from this matter, this technology could also negatively affect the health and well-being of the mothers. . *** End *** References: Ciabal, P. Ethics for Health Professionals. C&E Publishing Inc. pp. 66 - 67., 2003. "CNN Interactive." 2006. Health Story Page: Scientist Who Cloned Sheep: Cloning Humans Would be Inhuman. 7 March 2008 . "Donum Vitae." 22 February 1987. Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation. 5 March 2008 . Elaine, M. Essential of Human Anatomy and Physiology: Hematopoiesis. 7th Edition. Pearson Education Inc. p. 314., 2004. Friend, Tim. "Scientists Predict Huge Impact on Human Life." 10 August 2001. USA Today. Health & Science News. 5 March 2008 . Johnson, Judith A. "Report for Congress: Human Cloning." 2003. Kamada, T. and et al. "Transplantation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cell-Derived Schwann Cells Promotes Axonal Regeneration and Functional Recovery After Complete Transaction of the Adult Rat Spinal Cord." 2005 (Journal of Neuropathology Exp. Neurology): 64(1):37 - 46. Klein, S. and C.N. Svendsen. "Stem Cells in the Injured Spinal Cord: Reducing the Pain and Increasing the Gain." Nature Neuroscience (2005): 8(3):258 - 259. Kolata, G. "First Mammal Clone Dies: Dolly Made Science History." News Report. 2003. Mackay, Charles. "Science Clarified: Science in Dispute." 2006. Viewpoint: Yes, because of the potential physical dangers and the profound ethical dilemmas it poses, the cloning of human beings should be prohibited. 7 March 2008 . Magner, Lois N. "Science Clarified: Science in Dispute. Vol. 2." 2006. Should the Cloning of Human Beings be Prohibited? 7 March 2008 . "Science Daily." 30 November 2004a. Leukemia Patients Survive with Stem Cell Transplant. 5 March 2008 . "Science Daily." 16 December 2004b. Stem Cells of Limited Use for Cardiac Muscle Repair. 5 March 2008 . Wahlberg, David. "Progress Against Parkinsons." 15 December 2005. Stem Cell News.Com. 5 March 2008 . Read More