My junior theme is about the idea of genetically modifying humans, either to eliminate diseases like cystic fibrosis, or to create children with better intelligence and strength. There are several ways this can be done. The simplest is to undergo an IVF procedure, and test the embryos for certain characteristic, for a mutation which would result in a disease, for instance. The embryo with the desired characteristic is then implanted. This is already done on a small scale; many IVF clinics allow their clients to choose the sex of their child. The more extreme method of genetic engineering is to introduce new DNA into the embryos. We have already done this sort of genetic engineering with bacteria, plants and a few animals, to create crops with more yield, or fruit that grows larger. However, it's never been done before in a human. Theoretically if we refined the technology enough, we could modify many characteristics of an embryo at will. That sort of possibility is probably more for science fiction than an imminent danger, though, since the DNA of a human is much more complicated than corn DNA, and much more difficult to modify reliably and safely.
My paper is about why some Americans support such technologies and the broader idea of physical perfection, but much of the research I have done is about a related question; whether it is even ethical to use genetic technologies. The potential to eliminate debilitating genetic diseases is extremely alluring, a point I discuss in my paper. Many concerns have been raised, however, that technologies that enable the elimination of diseases will inevitably lead to non-medical modifications, to increase the strength or intelligence of people and to create a "perfect" human. I don't address that point in my paper, and I'm curious what other people think about the idea. Should we try to eliminate genetic diseases? Is it okay for a parent to, theoretically, alter the genes of their offspring to make them "better"?
Image credit: http://blog.thomasecon.com/discrimination/genetic-discrimination-is-a-genuine-and-growing-problem/attachment/dna/
