Human enhancement

If it's acceptable to modify one gene, why not two, or 20 or 200? At what point do children become artifacts designed to someone's specifications rather than members of a family to be nurtured? Given what we know about human nature, the development and commercial marketing of human genetic modification would likely spark a techno-eugenic rat-race. Even parents opposed to manipulating their children's genes would feel compelled to participate in this race, lest their offspring be left behind.”…

Human evolution is a very controversial topic these days. There are two sides of the story for the past of human evolution, the creationism and scientific facts. But as for human evolution of the future there are many options. We got the chance to sit down with some people to talk about some of them. We asked each one a series of questions. Theory 1 ‘humans will continue to evolve’ A few weeks ago we got to sit down with a few people to talk about the future of human evolution. The first…

ethical? Are studies in nature ever ethically justified? The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was unethical since scientists did not show any concern for the subject’s livelihood. Overall, scientists put more significance on the scientific experiment versus a human life. In the study, there were 399 syphilis subjects and 201 non-syphilis subjects, mostly consisting of illiterate blacks. Scientists thought illiterate blacks were fit for the study due to their vulnerability and lack of knowledge. At the…

technology and research, this may become a reality very soon. One such technology capable of restructuring genetic codes in human embryos is the CRISPR-Cas9 method. This works by using an enzyme found in bacteria to snip out segments of DNA and replace the section with a customized code of DNA (Burke). Using this method, there is no limit to the changes one can make to a human embryo, whether it is enhancing intelligence, speed, strength, height, beauty, etc. A “Designer baby” is the term…

As technology becomes a more influential part of human society, questions are raised considering its impact on society. Clive Thompson’s article, Smarter than You Think: How Technology Is Changing Our Minds for the Better, addresses this issue by stating that technology has a positive effect on society. Jenna Wortham’s article, I Had a Nice Time with You Tonight. On the App., presents a similar argument, but takes a different approach, by making her argument more grounded in everyday life.…

Brooklyn, I’d like to add to your response if you don’t mind. Primarily the claim that the ability to “design babies” is morally wrong because “it will dramatically increase the gap between classes.” This, in your opinion, would create a genetic divide along socioeconomic lines. I’d like to refer to this as the “Gattaca” argument, the idea that transhumanists, wanting to enhance our genetic makeup through genetic engineering, will also unwittingly deepen the divide between the rich (modified)…

found an article by Sarah Zielinski with the title, “The Glow-In-The-Dark Kitty: A fluorescent green cat could help in the fight against AIDS.” “The ultimate goal of this line of research, though, is to figure out how to make humans resistant to HIV, the virus that causes human AIDS.” Aside from cats that glow and according to the article many other animals, the project has a bigger purpose of making it posable to eliminate or correct the virus. Imagining the endless possibilities of being able…

Those who may have this objection believe that if we withhold the possibility of a better life or the possibility of a higher skill set we would be neglecting our children. In the reading, “Genetic Interventions and the Ethics of Enhancement of Human Beings” by Julian Savulescu, Savulescu gives the case of Neglectful Parents who have a child born with amazing intellect but needs a simple, cheap dietary supplement to sustain the child’s intellect but the parents neglect the diet for their…

when they crave power, they actualize themselves by obtaining power. The satisfaction of any particular need is in the foreground when it is a perequisite for the self- realization of the total organism. Self- actualization is the creative trend of human nature. It is the organic principle by which the organism becomes more fully developed and more complete. A new person has been created, thereby, one in whom learning has taken the place of ignorance. The desire has become an actuality. Any need…

If gene doping were legal and safe, would professional athletes all look like this? Gene doping is the act of genetically modifying cells and injecting them into the human body and is an illegal strategy for improving athletic performance. It is a topic with a lot of controversy and debate around it when associated with athletics. Most people argue that it is illicit and should be viewed as unlawful. Though the question I want to know is, if it is ethical? Many sports prohibit gene doping…