Evolution of Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering is the intentional alteration of genetic material. Human understanding on this subject is very minute. Any interference in a person's genetic makeup can cause irreversible damage, outweighing the benefits of Genetic Engineering such as eradication of diseases, the two kinds of Genetic engineering therapeutic or enhancement and religious beliefs.
When discussing the topic of genetic engineering we must be aware that there are two different types: therapeutic and enhancement. Therapeutic treatment is considered to be a type of gene restoration, where one’s genes would be altered to fit within the parameters of typical person’s. On the other hand, the other form of genetic engineering, gene enhancement is the idea of improving average typical genes to be above average. Therapeutic treatment is acceptable, if parents can prevent their child from having a serious or fatal disease, they should be able to pay for genetic treatment if they can afford to do so. However, I completely disagree with the process of genetic enhancement; a parent should not be able to alter their child’s genes from typical or average to over average. If humans even consider gene enhancement for their children, they should revise what is morally and ethically right and wrong. This kind of obsession is commonly found among young adult, they feel pressured to look a certain way, to have exact amounts of muscle, or body fat, to have a certain IQ or obtain a certain status.
However genetic engineering is an extremely controversial issue without even considering the view of religions. Ask yourself, is it wrong to “play god” by effectively creating and changing life? “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?” Ecclesiastes 7:13. Knowledge of genetic engineering has advance so far that it may be very soon that it would be possible to be genetically modify and embryo to be a “designer baby”. This could give dive disease or even change physical features such as eye color. Christian views against this include that the modifying of life is seen as “playing god” as God created life and people in his own image, to modify the basic genetics would be suggesting that God was flawed. All genetic engineering involves the usage and wastage of human embryos it is considered wrong by Catholic’s who believe life begins at conception and therefore life is being destroyed. This is against one of 10 commandments that “thou shall no kill”. It also goes against the bibles teachings of the sanctity of life. When looking at the religious arguments around genetic engineering it is very much down to a person’s interpretation of the teachings of the religion.
One of the top goals of genetic engineering is the improvement of health. Imagine a world without the fear of having the threat of AIDs or hearing the words of a doctor “you have cancer”. Genetic engineering could