Genetic Engineering Is Ethically Justified
OCR AS Level Ethics
Genetic engineering
Example of part (b) question
(b) “Genetic engineering is ethically justified.” Discuss [10]
Since the development of genetic engineering in the 1970s, scholars have questioned its ethical justification, claiming that it was playing God’ and was unnatural. Others claimed that humans have always altered their environment to benefit themselves. An example is that of genetically modified crops which some people believe can be justified for a number of reasons. The food has better taste and quality and a greater resistance to pests and diseases; it is environmentally friendly in that it does not require chemical pesticides and will conserve soil, water and energy; and it offers the world’s best chance to end or at least greatly reduce hunger and malnutrition through greater yields and sturdier crops. However, others believe that this kind of genetic engineering cannot be justified because GM crops threaten the environment and may cause havoc through cross-pollination. They could have as yet unknown effects on human health by causing unexpected allergic reactions and transferring antibiotic resistance markers. A potentially more serious criticism is that it leads to the exploitation of developing countries: many farmers are encouraged to grow GM crops and gradually become dependent on the multinational companies supporting them. Also, GM food cannot be seen as the sole solution to world hunger – the problem is far more complex, and questions of injustice in the social situations of today’s world need to be examined. These hugely differing stances on whether genetic engineering is ethically justified are just as evident in human genetic engineering. Christian scholars disagree over whether genetic engineering involving human embryos is ethically justified, For Christians, the sanctity of life is paramount – the Bible teaches that God created humans in his image and so human life has an intrinsic value. Using
Genetic engineering
Example of part (b) question
(b) “Genetic engineering is ethically justified.” Discuss [10]
Since the development of genetic engineering in the 1970s, scholars have questioned its ethical justification, claiming that it was playing God’ and was unnatural. Others claimed that humans have always altered their environment to benefit themselves. An example is that of genetically modified crops which some people believe can be justified for a number of reasons. The food has better taste and quality and a greater resistance to pests and diseases; it is environmentally friendly in that it does not require chemical pesticides and will conserve soil, water and energy; and it offers the world’s best chance to end or at least greatly reduce hunger and malnutrition through greater yields and sturdier crops. However, others believe that this kind of genetic engineering cannot be justified because GM crops threaten the environment and may cause havoc through cross-pollination. They could have as yet unknown effects on human health by causing unexpected allergic reactions and transferring antibiotic resistance markers. A potentially more serious criticism is that it leads to the exploitation of developing countries: many farmers are encouraged to grow GM crops and gradually become dependent on the multinational companies supporting them. Also, GM food cannot be seen as the sole solution to world hunger – the problem is far more complex, and questions of injustice in the social situations of today’s world need to be examined. These hugely differing stances on whether genetic engineering is ethically justified are just as evident in human genetic engineering. Christian scholars disagree over whether genetic engineering involving human embryos is ethically justified, For Christians, the sanctity of life is paramount – the Bible teaches that God created humans in his image and so human life has an intrinsic value. Using