This week, we are learning about issues surrounding human genetics and eugenics. including stem cell research, cloning, and genetic testing and treatment.
* Choose and describe a scientific technique or practice related to genetics and eugenics.
Provide the rationale behind the use of this technique or practice.
* Discuss your thoughts and ideas regarding the technique or practice. What theory would support your stance? Is it ever Justifiable? Why or why not?
Scientific Technique: CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing
Description:
CRISPR-Cas9 is a groundbreaking technique in the field of genetics that allows for precise editing of DNA. It is often compared to a pair of molecular scissors that can cut and modify specific sequences of DNA within the genome. CRISPR, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, was adapted from a natural defense mechanism found in bacteria, which use it to fight off viruses. By harnessing this system, scientists can target and modify specific genes, which has vast implications for genetic research, including potential applications in eugenics.
Rationale Behind Its Use:
CRISPR-Cas9 is used to correct genetic mutations that cause disease, improve agricultural crops, and potentially prevent inherited genetic conditions. In the context of eugenics, the technique could theoretically be used to enhance human traits, such as intelligence or physical ability, or to eliminate perceived undesirable traits, raising significant ethical concerns. The rationale for its use in this context is driven by the desire to eliminate suffering caused by genetic diseases and to potentially improve the human condition.
Discussion and Ethical Considerations
Personal Thoughts:
While CRISPR-Cas9 has immense potential for treating genetic disorders, its use in eugenics is deeply troubling. The idea of “designing” humans to fit certain standards or to enhance specific traits opens up a Pandora’s box of ethical issues, including the potential for increased social inequality, loss of genetic diversity, and the devaluation of individuals who do not meet certain genetic criteria. The technique’s use in this context could lead to a slippery slope where the definition of “desirable” traits is subjective and influenced by societal biases.
Supporting Theory: Deontological Ethics
Deontological ethics, particularly the ideas of Immanuel Kant, could support a stance against the use of CRISPR-Cas9 for eugenic purposes. Kantian ethics emphasizes the intrinsic value of individuals and the moral imperative to treat people as ends in themselves, not as means to an end. Using CRISPR-Cas9 to engineer specific traits in humans could be seen as treating individuals as mere means to achieve a particular vision of society, which is morally unacceptable according to this theory.
Justifiability:
The use of CRISPR-Cas9 for therapeutic purposes, such as curing genetic diseases, can be justifiable because it aligns with the goal of alleviating human suffering without altering the fundamental nature of individuals. However, its use in eugenics is not justifiable due to the profound ethical implications, including the potential for abuse, discrimination, and the erosion of human dignity. The pursuit of genetic “perfection” undermines the value of diversity and the acceptance of natural human variation, which are essential to a just and inclusive society.
In conclusion, while CRISPR-Cas9 holds promise for medical advancements, its application in eugenics is fraught with ethical dangers that outweigh potential benefits. The focus should remain on using this powerful tool to treat and prevent disease, not to engineer humans to fit arbitrary standards of perfection.