Running head: HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING CLASS ASSIGNMENT

Human Genetic Engineering Class Assignment

Angela Long
Coppin State University
Advanced Pathophysiology
Nurs 610
Ms. Johnson
September 13, 2012

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING CLASS ASSIGNMENT

Human Genetic Engineering Class Assignment

After watching the video on genetic engineering many questions are asked such
as, Is the process of natural selection coming to an end? Should we choose the best that is in us
for our children? If so, who gets to decide what is meant by the best that is in us?
(www.youtube.com/watch?V=8s4he3wlgkm). With technology advancing so much numerous
ethical and legal questions are being raised about human genetic engineering (Simmons, 2008,
para. 1). People have the capability of creating designer babies. With technology parents can
choose what traits their infant will have such as eye color, height, hair color, sex and eliminate
health conditions (Simmons, 2008, para. 9). According to a study conducted by Genetics &
Public Safety Center, Americans support use of reproductive genetic testing depends heavily on
the circumstances which it is being used (Genetics & Public Policy Center, 2004, p. 11).
According to the research conducted most people, about two thirds say genetic testing is good if
it can lead to help eradicating horrifying diseases but not to select designer traits for babies
(Genetics & Public Policy Center, 2004, p. 11). People had different views based on many
different things such as religion, race, sex, age, and political affiliation, awareness of technology,
income and education (Genetics & Public Policy Center, 2004, p. 19).
Some of the people surveyed in the study stated that their concerns for genetic
engineering were that it was being done for wrong purposes, playing god, too new to be safe and
unaffordable (Genetics & Public Policy Center, 2004, p. 29). The American public has both
hopes and fears about implications of using reproductive genetic testing. (Genetics & Public
Policy Center, 2004, p. 37). Some of the most repeated concerns were as follows: Will we lose
diversity, will there be discrimination against disabled, overpopulation. Who will have access,
only the rich, will access barriers increase class and racial disparities? And lastly what is

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING CLASS ASSIGNMENT

accuracy and safety for our population? (Genetics & Public Policy Center, 2004, p. 37). Who
decides all the answers are the current legal questions that are being fought over. Is it your choice
or the governments?

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING CLASS ASSIGNMENT

References
Genetics & Public Policy Center. (2004). Reproductive Genetic Testing What America Thinks
[Research paper]. Retrieved from DNA policy: www.dnapolicy.org
Simmons, D. (2008). Genetic Inequality: Human Genetic Engineering. Retrieved from
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetic-inequality-human-genetic-engineering