User:Rios2604/sandbox/Bioethics article

Controversy
The controversies surrounding Human Genetic Engineering (HGE) pertains to motivations behind enhancements, unknown consequences, and different moral positions between people. There are many moral arguments that contest the use of HGE ranging from violations of divine law in some religions and Natural Law which deems it as unnatural and therefore wrong. Another key argument made against HGE is the fear of widening the gap between social classes. The technology would primarily be available to those who could afford it creating social class issues between genetically modified humans and non-genetically modified humans.Another main argument is whether it is justifiable to allocate money to bio technologies when there are other current social issues that would benefit more people rather than the needs of the few privileged individuals.

Counter arguments made to support HGE is the optimism to control the human genome to address societal issues and expand our knowledge of humans as a species. With the convergence of many areas of discipline along with HGE there may be many possibilities for the future, but should be proceeded with caution. The attention of various biotechnology uses has been met with complete opposition in regards to ethical dilemmas. Some have also argued for the need to shift the conversation against HGE to a more constructive view of developing adequate ethical policy to regulate the use of HGE.

Turning the attention away from complete opposition will bring to light more ethically constructive measures for the mechanisms to be used in HGE. Ethical dilemmas of technical developments of human genetic engineering are also prevalent arguing that somatic cell modifications are less likely to harm humans than germline modifications. There is also the counter argument made that preventing genetic diseases in humans via germ line modifications is justified. This view sees the prevention of genetic diseases as a duty to human kind in preventing harm to future generations. Between somatic and germline cell modification also lies arguments of therapy vs enhancement which raises other ethical issues about which circumstances would it be morally correct to use enhancement or therapy.