Human Life Extension: Pros and Cons
Adam Simon
May 8, 2014
Baldwin Period 7
Honors Biology
Human Life Extension
There are many different pros and cons of genetically engineering the human lifespan. Some argue that if the average lifespan were to be increased, it would lead to the overpopulation of the world, resulting in risen poverty levels and damage to the environment. With the effect of living long, some people could be in terrible health conditions for many years without dying, in which they would no longer want to live. This in turn results in the suffering of those people. Another con of life extension is it would be going against how long humans are supposed to naturally live. Everything that lives is created to die, and for good reason. Humans are not an exception. The pros of life extension are relatively obvious; people could live much longer, and have more satisfying of lives. A longer human lifespan would most likely result in a new understanding of the human body, and benefit the entire human race. Some of the greatest minds of our time have all made ground-breaking discoveries, but imagine what else we would have learned if they were still with us. All these pros and cons of genetic engineering could decide the future of the human civilization. Life extension would change a lot more than just living longer, but change technology. Not much is known about the future of the human lifespan, but we can be sure that scientists are on their way to discovering the secret to living longer.
Having enjoyed life, most of us want to cling on to it for as long as possible, and that is why I am for the extension of human life. The genetic engineering of humans has the potential to greatly increase our life spans. Some estimates believe that living from 100 to 150 years could be the norm of the near future. [Of course gene therapy for a fatal condition will increase the lifespan of the patient, but the topic of human life expansion is making modifications to average people, who are in good physical
May 8, 2014
Baldwin Period 7
Honors Biology
Human Life Extension
There are many different pros and cons of genetically engineering the human lifespan. Some argue that if the average lifespan were to be increased, it would lead to the overpopulation of the world, resulting in risen poverty levels and damage to the environment. With the effect of living long, some people could be in terrible health conditions for many years without dying, in which they would no longer want to live. This in turn results in the suffering of those people. Another con of life extension is it would be going against how long humans are supposed to naturally live. Everything that lives is created to die, and for good reason. Humans are not an exception. The pros of life extension are relatively obvious; people could live much longer, and have more satisfying of lives. A longer human lifespan would most likely result in a new understanding of the human body, and benefit the entire human race. Some of the greatest minds of our time have all made ground-breaking discoveries, but imagine what else we would have learned if they were still with us. All these pros and cons of genetic engineering could decide the future of the human civilization. Life extension would change a lot more than just living longer, but change technology. Not much is known about the future of the human lifespan, but we can be sure that scientists are on their way to discovering the secret to living longer.
Having enjoyed life, most of us want to cling on to it for as long as possible, and that is why I am for the extension of human life. The genetic engineering of humans has the potential to greatly increase our life spans. Some estimates believe that living from 100 to 150 years could be the norm of the near future. [Of course gene therapy for a fatal condition will increase the lifespan of the patient, but the topic of human life expansion is making modifications to average people, who are in good physical
Cited: Firestein, M. (2009, September 22). Human life extension: Pros and cons. Retrieved from http://www.procon.org/view.resource.php/human-life-extension/resource Andrews, D. C. (2009, August 13). Turning on immortality: the debate over telomerase activation. Retrieved from https://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/aug2009_Turning-on-Immortality-The-Debate-Over-Telomerase-Activation_01.htm Unknown. (2012, May 21). 10 pros and cons to living to 1,000 years old. Retrieved from http://scienceforfiction.com/2012/05/21/10-pros-and-cons-of-living-to-1000-years-old/ Istvan, Z. (2014, January 31). When does hindering life extension science become a crime?. . Retrieved from http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/istvan20140131