Issue 12: Is Genetic Enhancement an Unacceptable Use of

Technology? Reflection
As technology has evolved and advancements have been made in multiple
fields the question of what is ethical and appropriate has become a larger issue.
One such question is whether or not genetic enhancement is an acceptable use of
new technology. Many like political philosopher Michael J. Sandel (April, 2004) argue
that it is not acceptable, while others like physician Dr. Howard Trachtman (June
2005) argues that it is acceptable and would be greatly beneficial. I agree with
Michael J. Sandel that genetic enhancement is an unacceptable use of technology. It
opens the door for parents to pick everything about their child instead of letting
genetics take care of itself like it always has and accept the children they have
naturally for better or worse. Additionally it mutates and changes the genes of the
child forever which allows for these altered genes to be passed onto later
generations. At this time it is unknown how these altered genes will change and
effect later generations. Reading this issue, particularly the argument made by Dr.
Howard Trachtman, made me think about how useful it could be to use the
technology for medical reasons and that we havent made all of the advancements
possible. Like he stated scientists have thought multiple times that we have
reached the end of knowledge for a subject, but still continue to learn. The
technology could be very useful to finding the answer to diseases we have not yet
found a cure for. Additionally like he stated many parents and people are still too
skeptical to trust doctors and the treatments presented, such as immunizations.
After reading his view point I am not as reluctant to consider genetic enhancement
for cases that could really benefit from it; however, I still think that there are too
many risks involved that would not fully be understood for many years and
generations down the road and could have greater adverse effects than are already
being addressed.

Resources:
Sandel M. J. (2004), The Case Against Perfection; The Atlantic Monthly
Trachtman H. (2005); A Man Is a Man Is a Man; The American Journal of Bioethics