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Why We Should Not Allow Gene Experiments On Human Life Sciences Essay

Essay Instructions:

The reason for choosing this topic: Recently, a Chinese scientist has successfully bred two Gene-edited babies, which caused intense discussion among people about the moral issue behind all gene experiments on human.

Theme: This type of gene experiments are against moral standard, identify the ethical issue of gene-editing experiments, and discuss why it is WRONG based on a Christian ethics.



The essay should talk more about the ETHICAL issue. And why it is wrong, and how can we prevent similar experiments.



1.) an overview of an ethical issue relevant to business

2.) a section which relates how this issue should be treated within a Christian worldview of ethics (it is possible that a Christian worldview might come at the issue from a different perspective than the prevailing contemporary view).

3.) 10-page paper double-spaced pages with normal margins, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman preferred, and at least six sources (from journals, magazines, books, NOT WEBSITEs, but online journals are acceptable)

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Introduction
Gene experiment is a scientific process in which defective genes in the human body are replaced by new ones which are more effective. The new genes are genetically modified meaning that they have been made in the lab. The process of replacing human genes with new scientifically modified ones is referred to as genetic engineering of humans. It is also viewed as the use of biotechnology to directly manipulate the genes of an organism trying to make them better and more effective. There are several synonyms of this process, genetic manipulation or genetic modification.
Gene experiments involve the use of biotechnology to change an organism’s cells genetic makeup. It includes enhancing the genes or at times transfer of genes of organisms across species to produce organisms that are improved (Baltimore et al. 36-38). The genes are isolated from the cells and transferred to those of other animals, or they are copied, and their replica is made which are more enhanced. Genetic engineering in humans uses the recombinant DNA methods where the DNA’s are artificially synthesized to create their replica. Genetic modification has been used in the development of genetically modified crops which are meant to increase yields.
Genome editing is a more advanced form of genetic engineering, which involves the modification and replacement of DNA in the genome of organisms. It also involves deleting of DNA’S and inserting new ones to replace them and enhance the functioning of the living organism. The genome of an organism is its genetic material. It consists of DNA’s for most organisms, but there are RNA’s for RNA viruses and the genes. Most of the genetic editing in the genome of prokaryotic organisms happens in the CRISPR. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (Bosley et al. 478).
Over the past years, scientists have made attempts to develop human genetics. They have made attempts to improve the functioning of human beings in various aspects. Examples include the production of human proteins by Genentech in 1976 and the production of human insulin in 1978. Advanced biotechnological productions have been made over the years with the latest being a development of two babies by a Chinese scientist Jiankui. He released the twin girls whom he claimed that he had genetically edited their DNA’s. The actions by Jiankui has raised many ethical questions. Discussed in this paper are ethical issues related to genetic engineering with the case of Jiankui used as a case study. It also looks at the matter from a religious, Christian, point of view.
Ethical issues in human genetic engineering
Invasiveness of procedures. Genetic engineering involves the developing, extraction and transfer of genes from human beings. At some points, it involves the sacrifice of people to get these genes which are then modified to develop better and more effective genes which are meant to enhance the effectiveness of people. Invasiveness of procedures is where the human body is entered through the skin or other body cavities to get the genes that are required in the act of genetic modification (Berens et al. 10-15). A lot of ethical questions are asked during this process. Is it ethical to extract genes from the bodies of human beings for genetic engineering? Genetic modification cannot happen without the genes which are collected from human beings. Surgical procedures are, therefore, primarily in the process of genetic modification.
Arguments by scientists are that the procedures have minimal damage and are conducted with the highest form of professionalism. However, the fact remains, a surgical procedure was performed on a person and something taken. It also remains that the body may have been affected during the procedure. It is not ethical to surgically remove tissue from the body of a person for scientific research purposes. The procedures are invasive on the bodies of the people, which is unethical.
Experiments on live people. When testing the success of genetic modifications, live people are used. The process of genetic modification is conducted in the lab after sample genetics are collected. However, the only way to test their success is by transferring the genetically modified DNAs to living people to see their success. It is the highest form of lack of ethics in the process of genetic engineering (Bosch et al. 1907-1929). The success of the modified genes is tested using assumptions and estimates using relevant scientific theories related to the genes and functioning of the human body. However, this is only an assumption, and the only way to confirm is by putting the genes on living people.
Deaths and other forms of infirmities are experienced during this stage. Many risks face the people who are used in this experiment at sometimes. Scientists argue that they do not force people and the experiments are only done on people who are willing, and most of the times it is done for material benefits. The ethical question in this is that the scientists take advantage of the needy people to conduct the experiments on them. It is not ethical. It also isn’t ethical conducting experiments on people.
Large numbers of people required. During the process of genetic modification, large numbers of genes are required. For the process to be successful, it is used to make sure that as many numbers of genes are collected. Large numbers of genes mean that the scientists have a wider base to place their research and to develop their genes. They believe that a wider base of genes puts in place the scientific value of the process. Large numbers on genes required means that the more DNA’s will need to be picked from the people. More DNA’s means that more tissue will need to be taken. More invasive procedures will be conducted on more people. Also, upon completion, experiments on the developed genes will be conducted on more people to get more value on the results.
It is unethical in that more people are affected during this process. Conducting experiments on more people ensure collection of real results unlike when done to a single person because different people react differently to scientific experiments. It is unethical because people may be affected by these experiments. Conducting the experiments on large numbers of people may lead to a lot of deaths or infirmities among these people hence not ethical.
Unanticipated welfare concerns. Most of the scientists argue that the reason as to why they are conducting genetic modification is because they care about the welfare of the people. They argue that the genetic engineering they do is meant to ensure that they can put human life at a more advanced level (Bosch et al. 1907-1929). They argue that they want to develop human genes. However, the real reason as to why most scientists conduct these processes is because they want to prove their scientific theories. They do not concentrate on making human life better but instead want to develop replicas of humans.
The ethical issue raised about the welfare concerns of these actions is that they are not meant to benefit the people. The genetically developed humans or clones have some abnormalities, and this puts the welfare of people around them at risk. Also, genetic engineering instead of being used to develop human beings and ensure that they can live enhanced lives, it is used to develop clones, and this brings questions about the welfare concerns of the whole process of genetic engineering.
The principle of reduction. The principle of reduction, which is part of the three R’s, Reusing, Reducing and Recycling, states that there should always be steps that seek to reduce but still at the same time ensure that maximum benefit is achieved (Baltimore et al. 36-38). Achievement of the principle of reducing in human genetics is affected because it brings a probability where there will be a vast production of human clones, and this will lead to too many humans. The too many genetically develop humans will have their impacts on the environment and other social factors hence raising an ethical concern.
For-profits. The main reason as to why many scientists are spending their time and resource in the research and developments in genetic engineering is because they see it as an opportunity in the field for them to develop profits for ...
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