Gene Therapy Argumentative Essay

We live in a world dominated by science. It seems that everyday, a new controversial topic appears. Most recently, the controversial topic is human germline gene therapy and this type of therapy does not have a place in 2016. I am against germline gene therapy because it is too early for human research, we as the science community do not know enough about the process of how genes control phenotypic expression, and if the technology to edit germline cells would be leaked to the public it could create an entirely new social inequality. Before I go into depth as to why this new type of therapy does not belong, allow me to tell you a little about the topic. You may be wondering what germline gene therapy entails.
The National Institute of Health describes gene therapy on their website as, “Gene therapy attempts to treat genetic diseases at the molecular level by correcting what is wrong with defective genes. Clinical research into gene therapy’s safety and effectiveness has
If the technology to edit germline cells would be leaked to the public it could create an entirely new social inequality. The idea behind the possibility of creating a new type of social inequality may sound far fetched, but allow me to explain myself. The process of germline gene editing has the ability to create “designer babies” as Sharon Begley titles it. (115) Designer babies would create a new norm of quite literally being perfect. Take for example, the ability to change eye color, facial feature, hair color, height, presence of freckles, or even athletic ability and other personality features. The use of the technology to create the “designer babies” would also be most likely limited to the wealthy. Begley explains this worry the best in her essay, as “with germline engineering only society’s ‘haves’ will control their genetic