Research Moral Judgement On Technological Advancement (Essay Sample)

Moral Judgment on Genetic Engineering
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Moral judgment on technological advancement
The major goal of science and scientific study is to find solutions to problems faced by the society on various aspects of life. One of the scientific areas seeking solutions to human bio is genetic engineering. Genetic engineering can be described as a process of modifying a gene. The major goal of genetic engineering is to add a trait to an organism that never existed before. When doing the process, scientists will go for the gene of a trait they are looking for a certain organism and bring and inject it into the organism they want it to possess it. Traditionally this process of gene transfer was done through mating and or cross-breeding. One limitation though that is associated with this traditio0nal genetic engineering methods is that the traits acquired are limited to the one contained in that organism.
The moral question one faces is then, is it morally right to change genes of organisms to get a specific trait out of an organism? or should it be decided on a personal level depending on one's ideas and choices about happiness? One of the traits of man is that man has a free will to make choices freely. And man is inclined towards seeking things that make one happy always. However, ego should not be overlooked when making choices. Man tends to seek happiness at the expense of others and as per Maslow's hierarchy of needs, they will move high towards self-actualizations (Dickens, 2014).
When developing genes for muscles supplementations, scientist main goal is to get genes that can help the elderly in the society when their muscles get worn out. This will enable the elderly and humans with weak muscles to be able to work and do things by themselves without assistance. It is a noble course by the scientists. But the question that must be faced is what if this gene modification drugs meant for muscle therapy find their ways to the enhancement of normal muscles? For example what if athletes use these genes in sports? Will it give them undue advantage over their fellow peers? Of course, this will give them undue advantage over their counterparts. Unless the drugs are made available for all to use, it is an area that must be addressed because in competing for this limited resources, it is unethical for some to have a manmade undue advantage that they can buy. Some will argue that like the 1994 athlete from Finland who was found to have a genetic mutation that increased his red blood cells, he was having undue advantage over others. This case is different because God-given abilities are universal. Genetic enhancement is not universal hence it will be unethical is it is selectively applied (Lederman, et al, 2014).
Another interesting area that genetic engineering has ventured into is generating memory enhancers. The reason for such enhancers is to help people suffering from Alzheimer's, a disease associated with memory loss and other cognitive traits. It will also help persons suffering from memory disorders. As usual, the drugs might find their way into hands of users who have no memory disorders just for enhancing their memory capacity. For example, a learner will take it in order to remember more and is most likely to have undue advantage over fellow learners. In such scenario, there is a possibility of creating enhanced humans and poor natural humans. This can be transferred down generations that might precipitate war because there is a possibility of the factions redefining themselves. From an ethical point of view, if such a scenario arises, then it is necessary for everyone to have access to these drugs. Both the rich and the poor for equity purposes (Peters, 2014).
Since 1980, a human growth hormone was approved to enhance heights of children. When it comes to the height it goes down to choices and preferences. The ethical questions faced here is as to why only growth hormones were developed for short people alone? Why are there no such drugs for someone who wants to be shorter or an average one who seeks to be taller for personal reasons? Is it not unfair? The fairest question to be addressed from the moral point of view is whether it is right for parents and guardians to spend their hard-earned cash in an artificial height enhancement competition for the love of their children (Lederman, et al, 2014).
One of the areas where genetic engineering is used for nonmedical reasons is in sex selection. From time memorial sex of a child has been the most ...