question archive Hello! So our class is having a debate on Genetic Modification in Humans (GMH) and the two opposing group: one that recognizes the merits of a genetically modified human (GMH) or Pro-GMH, and; one that is against GMHs or Anti-GMH
Hello! So our class is having a debate on Genetic Modification in Humans (GMH) and the two opposing group: one that recognizes the merits of a genetically modified human (GMH) or Pro-GMH, and; one that is against GMHs or Anti-GMH
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Hello! So our class is having a debate on Genetic Modification in Humans (GMH) and the two opposing group: one that recognizes the merits of a genetically modified human (GMH) or Pro-GMH, and; one that is against GMHs or Anti-GMH.
I am part of the of the Anti-GMH group and I am asking if you can help us make our opening statement for the the debate. The Pro-GMH has already stated their opening statement.
Pro-GMH Opening Statement:
To begin, we want to pose the question, are we not ready for the man's big leap? From the day man appeared on this planet as the most intelligent being, what we have achieved is making life better and making it more comfortable through the eras gone by. Today, we dominate by the sheer power of our intellect. We have been improving the circumstances, mastering the environment, and modifying everything around us to meet our needs. It is now time to improve ourselves, our very being, enhance our very existence and not give up on the life plan decided by our genes. It is time to modify our very essence - OUR GENES!
Do not ask why? Instead, ask, why Not? We defined Genetic Modification in Humans as the deliberate, controlled manipulation of the genes in humans with the intent of making that organism better in some way. Recently developed techniques for modifying genes are often called "gene editing." Gene editing is a genetic engineering type in which DNA is inserted, replaced, or removed. For this debate, we would like to present the affirmative's side points.
First, allow us to tell you gene modification's most significant benefit: Disease management. About 6,000 genetic disorders, many of which are fatal or severely debilitating, are known today, and more to be discovered. Most of these disorders do not have treatment, and patients live with it for the rest of their lives. If we intervene earlier, even prior to conception, we can already prevent this disease from happening. Through genetic modification, we can also decrease the chances of passing a genetic disease to the offspring like hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. It will not just improve the quality of life of the patient but also the people around them.
Second, genetic modification can enhance human capacities. Cognition, physical performance, and longevity will be engineered for humans. In theory, editing techniques would enable gene manipulation so that cognitive and physical traits on demand could be passed onto individuals. It will enhance the workforce of a country for a better economy and human resources. Moreover, it could also mean a longer life span by making humans more resilient that can change with the environment.
Last for the advantages is the potential to delay or stop aging. We do not mean being immortal but being physically at your prime throughout your life. Gene editing could delay or arrest aging; this has already been achieved in mice. Gene editing might offer the prospect of humans living twice as long, or perhaps even hundreds of years, without loss of memory, frailty, or impotence.
In terms of the advancement in technologies, one of the methods that can be used in GMH is CRISPR-Cas9, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, that makes targeted changes in the genetic material of DNA. It is highly advantageous in human genome editing as it is cheaper, faster, more precise, and versatile compared to other genetic modification methods.
Anti-GMH Opening Statement:
[in here, you will decide if you will accept or reject the definitions laid out by the pro-GMH group. You will then start to layout your points against GMHs and why they are a travesty to our humanity. You may also include the advancement and problems in technologies in the past decade and how they're used in genetic modifications.]
Pls do not give any rebuttals first, just points in ANTI-GMH and advancement and problems in technologies in the past decade and how they're used in genetic modifications.
You may also include in the opening statement of the anti-GMH: disadvantages of GMH, scientific, social, and ethical implications of GMH in human, and consequences of GMH.
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Anybody who cares for the dignity of life in its very origins should be deeply concerned with the possibilities genetic modifications of humans presents.First and foremost, there is everything wrong in treating humans as subjects of a laboratory experiment, as objects of technological mastery.This presents an immediate concern as to how the society's view of life as sacred and something which should be protected will be changed to a something that can be toyed with and discarded easily. We should be concerned of how the technology will replace love and procreation with production in a sterile laboratory where no slightest regard to affection or human linkage is applicable. There is a difference between making children and begetting, the former has no human compassionate connection, the later has.
Having some humans who have their genes modified such that they are stronger, faster, more resistant to disease and more intellectually upright would bare serious social, commercial and competitive dynamics especially in the societal level.There are many forms of inequality the the world is already struggling to deal with today such as racism,social economic status and sexism and having another layer of separation engineered by the need to have humans whose genes are modified in a particular was will only serve to widen the struggles and issues such inequalities tend to present to a society. Humanity will soon find itself in a situation where parents pursue to improve their children at one cell stage and given the high cost of such procedures, only the wealthy will be able to afford the same and that means that they would have children who will be more superior even further reinforcing the societal gaps already in extant because of the difference in resource access and ability between the haves and the have nots. The rich wlll become richer and stronger while the poor will become more weaker and poorer because they will be subjects for the rich.
There is also the possibility of having unseen ecological impacts.For instance, although research has been conducted on the procedures involving GMH very little has been shown on what they would prefer as for instance food or medical inputs and as such unforeseen environmental and ecological changes which may be deteriorative to the normal human population may be realized.
The CRISPR-Cas9 procedure currently used allows scientists to customize babies to the preference of the parents without limitations and this is one of the main problems in using this technology.Firstly, the child has no consent on the modifications being administered and as such he/she is being mechanized.This has the larger effect of parents to detect the characteristics of future humans given that these traits would be passed to off springs.Secondly, the fact that the technology cannot self regulate leaves a lot of room for imaginable and unimaginable possibilities not all of which will be beneficial to the natural species of human beings.
Philosopher Leon Kass once said, "As bad as it might be to destroy a creature made in God's image, it might be very much worse to be creating them after images of one's own."
