General information:
Genetic engineering describes the alteration of the DNA of an organism. By manipulating the DNA of an organism, it is possible to activate new genes.
Pro – argument | Contra – argument |
By changing the DNA of plants, they can exhibit more favourable traits:
| The long-term effects of genetically modified food on humans and the environment are not foreseeable:
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By changing the DNA of animals, it is possible to explore:
By using animals for medical testing, it is possible to observe:
As the DNA of some animals is very similar to that of humans, it is possible to anticipate whether these effects would also occur in humans. These experiments help to make medications safer for humans. A recent example of the usage of genetically modified animals in the medical field: In January 2022 the US man David Bennett (57 years old) received as the first person ever received a heart transplant of a genetically modified pig. He was unable to have a human heart transplant. The genes of the pig were modified to ensure that Mr. Bennett´s body accepts the transplant | Whether one should allow genetic engineering on humans or animals is not only a discourse of pro and contra arguments; the ethical implications must also be considered. |
Ethical implications:
Transgenic animals and animal testing:
Animals also have rights. Experimentation which purposefully infects them with diseases or injects them with vaccines in order to test their bodily reactions is considered cruel. Animals are often used for behavioural studies or for studies involving the functions of certain genes. These animals are then bred in the laboratory, where they spend their whole life before they die. Thus, these animals can never experience their natural habitat and a natural life.
However, there are various benefits for humanity in employing animals for various tests:
Medication and products need to be tested in order to make them safe for humans. If animal testing was banned, then this testing would have to be done on humans which would lead to further ethical problems. Many controversial medicines and products would never be tested and therefore, would not be available if everything needed to be tested on humans. Moreover, it is possible that vulnerable people might be lured into participating in these tests by offers of money or food.
Designer babies:
Since every human being owns his or her body, it is questionable whether parents should be allowed to alter certain aspects of their baby. On the one hand, genetic engineering allows parents to lower the risks of diseases, which would have a positive impact on the baby’s life. On the other hand, parents also have the option of deciding on certain phenotypical aspects of their future child, which could result in a more attractive appearance. However, these interventions might cause problems or even prove to be fatal for the unborn child or have unexpected results as many genes are not fully understood.
Due to the fact that the procedures might also be pricey, only wealthy people even have the option of using them. This could further increase the gap between the poor and the rich. In such a society, appearance could become an indicator of a membership to a specific social class. Also, a society in which designer babies are common can enforce the mentality that children can only be loved if they are perfect. This could lead to discrimination of people with diseases or unfavourable traits.