Genetic Modification Essay

Gene Modification From a Libertarian Perspective
Over many years, the idea of genetically modifying human embryos has been an extremely controversial topic. A global network of stem cell researchers named Hixton Group released a statement claiming that genetic modification is essential to gain basic understanding of the biology of early embryos. Being able to modify and study embryos would bring tremendous value to science. Although the group didn’t particularly encourage changing embryos for personal reasons, they strongly believe that when all safety, efficacy and governance needs are met it is acceptable to practice genetic modification. This is a complicated topic to many because changing the way a human is being naturally born, and adjusting features and characteristics of the human body to suit a personal desire is seen as malicious. Certain people believe that it is inhumane to tamper with a fetus for the pleasure of yourself, but others see no fault in having the opportunity to be able to do this if wanted or needed Stem cell researchers and bioethicists have been trying for ages to be able to research the human germ line in human embryos, but since the thought of the modification is seen collectively as criminal, the United States National Institute of Health (which make the funds for biomedical research) declines all offers to contribute money for any use of gene editing technologies in human embryos.
Just being able to be allowed to study genome editing technique, researchers would be able to see how the early embryo is formed which would lead to improvements to things that don’t involve editing or disturbing the genome at all such as IVF and reduced implantation failure. If genetic modification were to be allowed, it would not be forced or even encouraged for everyone to put into action for their offspring. The option would be there for people to have the choice to do something if wanted, and scientists would benefit greatly.
In this paper I will look at the action of genetically modifying human embryos through the Libertarian perspective.
I will discuss that a Libertarian would be acceptable of this situation being done if they personally feel like they would benefit from it in the long run. Libertarians would use this example, like anything else that gives you an opportunity to act on your free will and make choices independently. Although it may seem harsh, if libertarians are given the option and feel that they want to, they would act on what they are telling themselves to
do.
Libertarians see things in a very clear way, which for the most part, acts on their own feelings of what is right and what is wrong. They seek a world of liberty, in which all people are sovereign over their individual lives. In one’s mind, they own themselves and what they choose to do without interference from government or any authoring power. Libertarians view of autonomy, reason and dignity play into the decisions they make and the reason why their mind manages circumstances. They believe that they own themselves and the actions they make. When left to make decisions based on what you feel, it is hard to choose right from wrong because decisions could start to be selfish or immoral to others. Libertarians use reason in a way that benefits themselves in the long run and defends each persons right to engage in activity that’s peaceful and honest. As a libertarian, they are entitled to exercise whatever they want in their own lives and live however they want to as long as they done interfere with anyone else’s rights and how they want to live.
Dignity plays a role in the libertarian mind when acting on freedom. Since they have the opportunity to act on their free will and do this alone, dignity comes to play. In a libertarian mind as long as you didn’t break a contract or ruin peace, you did the right thing. That leaves so much room to act on the permission of using free will. Breaking a contract is seen as doing one wrong and disturbing their peace. Ruining peace, in other words, is going out of your way to invade another’s free will and rights. Libertarians don’t function that way in their thoughts. If you do the right thing to maintain dignity following the basic guidelines of dignity, it is doing the right thing, even if the right thing wasn’t in mind. The motive is to do what is preferred as long as the guidelines are being followed and you are happy with what is going on. This would typically better you while doing no wrong to anyone else in the process.
Now that Libertarian views are expressed, it simple to see where their mentality would be in the case of gene modification of human embryos. Deciding on whether to have ones embryo genetically modified is a decision made up to the person completely. If legal, and not driven by force, it is ones right to have the ability to alter whatever they would like. Doing such act is propelled by our own desires and wishes and doesn’t have to do with somebody else. As a libertarian would think, the opinion of what other people think of your actions is not your business as long as you are not disturbing their peace or breaking a contract made with somebody. It is solely your decision to go on with the modification or study the practice independently as a part of your free will.
Libertarians make decisions and gather thoughts to better themselves and don’t really think of how it is disturbing others although others have no part of it. They think that peace is present when they aren’t doing wrong on to another. In this situation, one is not genetically modifying some body else’s child. The decision is left to you, and meant to greater your happiness in whatever you think is right or wrong. A libertarian might not want to have an embryo tainted with, but the option to do so (if wanted) is what is important. Peace will be made when everyone is doing their own thing and going their way about it.
The majority of people today believe that it is wrong to alter with a human being because of the moral value of a human life. The embryo would be changed to your liking and what you prefer, but what about everybody else? What if genetic engineering created the perfect person and everyone else was seen as not good enough? The standard of the human to would eventually rise if more people were to pick how they wanted their offspring to be. As a libertarian would think, we choose what makes us happy and what would better ourselves. As long as you aren’t distorting somebody else’s child, what is wrong with improving our own? If the human standard were to increase it is your job to do whatever you have to do to keep up and keep yourself content. Libertarians use people as means and not as ends. They use different things to build themselves up to get where they want in life. A libertarian’s intention is to not intrude on other people and bother, but sometimes with the help of other people things improve for their own wellbeing.
While genetic modification is portrayed as an unacceptable step up in technology, the Libertarian perspective shows that in this case the right to genetically modify an embryo is acceptable. It is a choice that should be seen as an independent decision. This does not mean that any libertarian does not see the act of genetic modification as inhumane. They just respect that a right that we all have is to be able to make our own decisions, and if we do not want to have our child modified we do not have to take part in this action personally.

Works Cited
1. Sandel, Michael J. Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009. Print.
2. "Genetically Modified Human Embryos Should Be Allowed, Expert Group Says." The Guardian, Sept.-Oct. 2015. Web. .