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Imen Ghozzi 13.00

Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is

the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology. It is a set of

technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes

within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms

(Wikipedia). This phenomenon focuses on editing and altering the genes of plants ,

animals and even humans. Humans have experienced it since 1973 starting with Herbert

Boyer and Stanley Cohen. Scholars always figure out new inventions that make people

confused and scared about their sustainability! This phenomenon represents a big threat

to the human nature and the general order of the universe. It is considered as a challenge

to God , also as disaster to humanity and diversity. In addition to the previous points, this

essay will shed a light on how genetic human enhancement's advocates see it as method

to improve Man's life, and how this point of view will be refuted then.

Somehow I have known that your essay will be against!! I guess I know you well!

To start with , genetic human engineering is against God and human nature.

"Proponents of human enhancement are often accused of playing God with human

nature"(Giubilini & Sanyal 6). That is , this phenomenon wants to face and challenge

God through its objection and dissatisfaction with God's creature and choice. In other

words, it aims to create creature that has been never related to human beings. To explain

more, it wants to create super beings who are physically strong , clever and emotionally
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regulated. “Some bioethicists, including Leon Kass and Francis Fukuyama,....; they see

enhancements as creating beings who are not human beings"(Bouchanan ,351). Also ,

those scholars of this phenomenon are ,after all, humans , it is known that human beings

are not perfect, I mean they make mistakes. So that , they do not have the right to face

Almighty God . In other words, their knowledge is somehow limited ;they do not know

everything as God does. That is, God choses accurately the suitable DNA for each person

and creature in his universe. Think that you are in the day of judgement and God ask

you : why were you not satisfied with my choices and creation ? Will you dare to answer

him? In short , genetic human enhancement is an objection to God's will.

Now I am thinking about doom’s day hahaha!

Furthermore, genetic human manipulation creates new gap between social classes.

That is , those who have wealth will be stronger, prettier and smarter than those who

don't have wealth . In other words, it is unfair that wealthy people take over all good

characteristics, while poor ones are prevented to have this feature either. Also , if this

phenomenon was available throughout the world, racism as a large issue will extend more

and more. That is , those who are not enhanced will be humiliated and exploited more by

those who get enhanced. In other words, "there is a serious risk that the enhanced would

treat the unenhanced as if they had a lower moral status, even if they do

not"(Buchanan,350). Imagine that you are in this case , I mean you are not able to get

enhanced, and your wealthy colleagues and friends get enhanced, how will you feel??

What if they laugh at you and humiliate you . It is a bad feeling! Is not it Is it not? To
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sum up, genetic human enhancement deepens the gap between social classes, as well as

the racism among rich and poor people.

Supporters of genetic human engineering see that this phenomenon improve

people’s life. That is , through this occurrence, numerous diseases like cancer and CAD

(Coronary Artery Disease) can disappear. This leads to the extension of the individual’s

life , because having healthier conditions contributes to gain a healthier and better life.

Also , they think that genetic human manipulation improves the state of human beings

including physical strength, mental health and even emotions. That is, “Proponents have

argued that attempts to enhance humans will result in longer and healthier lives, increased

intellectual and artistic capacities”(Martín,483). In other words , scholars aims to create

super beings who are flawless and perfect, which is actually seen as an amazing

procedure by this phenomenon’s advocates.

It is clear that proponents of genetic human engineering do not get deeper in their

researches, and they are are not aware of the drawbacks and consequences of this

phenomenon. People who would like to try this process on their unborn children ,they

may put the fetus life in a big risk , because this process is not safe 100%. In other words,

it is not an easy process because it passes through multiple and accurate steps (it happens

when they are embryos not fetuses). To explain more ,”the risks are so high and the

documented efficacy is so low for gene transfer that it could not compare favorably to

straightforward prenatal diagnosis even when a compelling need for therapy

exists”(Gordon,2024). Also , as long as people will have a longer life , social problems

will over increase. That is , imagine that the percentage of population doubled or tripled ,
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what would happen!? The percentage of crimes in the world for example would raise

from 5.60% to approximately 10 or 25%. Also the percentage of unemployment would

raise from 6.5% to 12 or 18% worldwide (source?). To conclude, even the benefits of

genetic human manipulation include numerous risks.

Overall, it may be said that genetic human enhancement is considered as the end

of human nature. It obviously aims to alter human being’s features. This phenomenon

ought to be stopped because it is a challenge to God and objection to their will. Also , if it

becomes widespread, it will create another gap among social classes. Advocates of

genetic human engineering turn a blind eye to these problems which are left by this

occurrence, and they consider it as an improvement for human’s life. But the latter point

was refuted in this essay with considerable evidences.

I do disagree with you but I really found your essay refreshing! Made me laugh at

some points because your free spirit and impulsivity showed at some points!

One remark, make sure you use formal language.

Work cited:

 Wikipedia, Genetic engineering Retrieved from:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering#

 Alberto Giubilini& Sagar Sanyal, The Ethics of Human Enhancement: Understanding the

debate, Playing God, Oxford University,2016.

 Allen Buchanan, Moral Status and Human Enhancement, Wiley,2009.

 Inmaculada de Melo-Martín, Defending human enhancement technologies: unveiling

normativity, BMJ, 2010.

 Jon W. Gordon, Genetic Enhancement in Humans, American Association for the

Advancement of Science, Mar, 26, 1999.

Good