Ethical Essay Marta Lukasiak ENGL 101 1
ESSAY 2
How far should scientists go to modify humans through genetic engineering? Not far at all. God
created man and women to be fruitful. “God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful
and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;” NIV Genesis 1:28. Mankind was created by God.
He made us all in his image genetically engineering a human is not how God wanted us to go
forward and multiple. There are a lot of children in the world in need of homes. If science can
create children more people will choose the option of getting to pick and choose what their
future child’s image looks like, rather then giving a home to one in need. The cost and risks of
allowing mankind to pick and choose what they want in their future child are too high and have a
lot of potential dangers.
When God wrote the Bible, he states how he made man. God is our maker, not mankind. God is
who decides what our children look like. When he creates life, he creates that person in his
image. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male
and female he created them.” NIV Genesis 1:27. Mankind is his image not our own. Mankind is
God’s creation not ours to modify. As another point to this, Gods image is told to us to be
unknowable to the human mind. One could reasonably draw a conclusion that the creation made
in his image is also unknowable to us, thus any meddling on our own will result in greater issues
spiritually. And maybe the most basic point of all, God has a plan for each and every father,
mother, and child, so who are we to change or meddle in that plan?
Ethical Essay Marta Lukasiak ENGL 101 2
There may be some positive outcomes from allowing this process such as correcting and
preventing illnesses. Dr. Luhan Yang, on of the scientist who was on a project for DNA editing,
believes “disease genes and pass those genetic fixes on to future generations.” There are many
scientist who also say it is possible to prevent these diseases and illnesses. Steve Connors wrote
in MIT Technology Review “In altering the DNA code of human embryos, the objective of
scientists is to show that they can eradicate or correct genes that cause inherited disease.”
Shoukhrat Mitalipov an American biologist, also known as "the cloning chief" is head of the
Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy in Oregon. Mitalipov, according to “MIT
Technology Review” has made remarkable progress and has proven “it is possible to safely and
efficiently correct defective genes that cause inherited diseases.” If this does prove to be the case
this might mean the end of genetic susceptibility to cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and so
many other life destroying diseases.
In all of the articles about genetically engineering a baby each has made a comment about being
able to choose features to the baby. Such as, if one would like their child to have blue or green
eyes. The color of their hair. The possibilities are growing. Getting to pick how one’s future baby
may look like sounds exciting. The only question to ask is, at what price?
The cost of delivery a baby is around $10,000. This excludes the cost for doctor visits and
prenatal. It also does not include if there are any complication before, during and after the baby
is born. IVF or in virto fertility is a treatment used for families who is trying to conceive but are
unable to due to fertility issues. Medicalxpress wrote “Overall, for women starting IVF, 33%
have a baby as a result of their first cycle, increasing to 54-77% by the eighth cycle.” Women
Ethical Essay Marta Lukasiak ENGL 101 3
undergo multiple rounds of IVF each round is a separate charge. Antonio Regalado states “An in
vitro fertility procedure costs about $20,000 in the United States. Add genetic testing and egg
donation or a surrogate mother, and the price soars toward $100,000.” A surrogate cost $60,000
not including the hospital and doctor visits. The cost to allow people to choose a “designer baby”
would only allow those of wealth to be able to afford the procedure. This would not be
affordable for all as well as not guaranteed their child is designed exactly as they would like.
Like many procedures and surgeries there are great risks. We are all human and can make a
mistake. Unfortunately, a small mistake in a correcting DNA editing can become dangerous to
the unborn child. Stated in MIT Technology Reviews written by Antonio Regalado “Only about
half the embryos will lead to live births, and of those that do, many could contain a mixture of
cells with edited DNA and without.” This leads to birth defects and other life-threatening issues.
From a social-ethical perspective many have concerns about this practice is a repeat of the third
Reich. “Another concern is that this phenomenon would could create what could be considered
as a supreme race, like the Nazi’s tried to do in WWII with eugenics.” The fear of a person in a
powerful position pursuing a superior race to rule over others is a terrifying and a good reason
not to allow genetic manipulation on humans. “A dozen countries, not including the United
States, have banned germ-line engineering, and scientific societies have unanimously concluded
that it would be too risky to do. Engineering the perfect baby”
has tough us God is the creator of mankind. Children are a gift from him the following scripture
mentions how the womb is also from him, “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of
the womb is a reward.” Psalms 127:3 NAS.
Ethical Essay Marta Lukasiak ENGL 101 4
Engineering mankind strays away from what God how to procreate. There are a few beneficial
outcomes such as choosing traits and fixing birth defects and long-term illnesses such as
Alzheimer and cancer but, it comes with its disadvantages such as many risks and dangers to the
child if not done correctly, the cost of the procedure makes it not affordable to anyone who is not
rich. There is fear that comes with this choice.
Turabian references:
Regalado, Antonio. “Engineering the Perfect Baby.” MIT Technology Review. MIT
Technology Review, April 2, 2020. Last modified April 2, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2020.
https:// www.technologyreview.com/2015/03/05/249167/engineering-the-perfect-baby/
Mullin, Emily. “CRISPR Trials Are about to Begin in People-but We Still Don't Know How
Well It Works in Monkeys.” MIT Technology Review. MIT Technology Review, April 2,
2020. Last modified April 2, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2020.
https:// www.technologyreview.com/2018/04/11/143969/crispr-trials-are-about-to-begin-in-
people-but-we-still-dont-know-how-well-it-works-in/
Connor, Steve. “First Human Embryos Edited in U.S.” MIT Technology Review. MIT
Technology Review, April 2, 2020. Last modified April 2, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2020.
https:// www.technologyreview.com/2017/07/26/68093/first-human-embryos-edited-in-us/
Ham, Ken, and Terry Mortenson. “Science or the Bible?” Answers in Genesis. Last
modified June 14, 2007. Accessed June 9, 2020. https://answersingenesis.org/what-is-
science/science-or-the-bible/
Anesmt. “How Have the Risks and Benefits of Designer Babies Created a Ethical Controversy?
[5 Lines, 5 Dots, 1 Curve].” BEAUTIFUL BIOLOGICAL QUESTIONS. Last modified May
2, 2014. Accessed June 9, 2020. https://sites.jmu.edu/gbio103/how-have-the-risks-and-
benefits-of-designer-babies-created-a-ethical-controversy-5-lines-5-dots-1-curve/
