Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of genetic engineering? Discuss this statement with specific reference to Gattaca

The advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages with reference to Gattaca where in this film behind the premises lies the vision of a future where you can predetermine the genetic make-up of a human being. There will no longer be the need for natural conception. Instead, for those able to afford it, babies will be immaculately conceived in a test-tube, thereby classing the world into two distinct categories: 'Valids' for the genetically perfect and 'In-Valids' for those anything less so. Free from human virtues and flaws, a genetically perfect human being will live a healthier and generally, a better life than a mere "ordinary" person. People will be judged on their genetic composition and those judged unfit will be ostracised from society of perfection. In Gattaca this was seen as what life was always going to be like all the time despite the disadvantages that are inflicted upon the fact of genetic engineering. Gattaca is a future of hope for humans, a longer healthier life for those who have been genetically made.

Some feel the advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages only because of the healthier and better humans will become and how it will benefit life and improve the way of life much better, reducing crime and other negative factors as referred to the film. For example, genetic engineering when fully developed will make changes that will be passed to succeeding generations. Medicine has enabled individuals who would have died from diseases livelong enough to pass on their disease producing genes. Genetic engineering could prevent this. Alteration of genes in the unborn or unconcealed would prevent disease that would later require expensive treatment, not to mention pain and suffering. It will alter in advance the future of individuals increasing not only the quantity but also the quality of their lives. This in itself is very controversial so genetic technology is promoted primarily for its ability to diagnose and treat diseases in existing individuals.  Promoters feel this is the next step for the future. Most genetic technologists say that they do not limit freedom, but increase it.  It will allow people to make decisions about their health or reproductive choices. In Gattaca this is fully depicted how only the genetically perfect are valid and work in the corporation as perfect beings without the risks of an ordinary person.

As shown advantages seem to prove very high rather than the disadvantages and will eventually benefit humans in a huge way despite the restrictions and unknown factors that could be caused by genetic engineering, this is why some ethics believe that genetic engineering especially in animals will be stopped and disagreed by many people as they find it wrong because animals have the same feelings as humans, in the future this will be disagreed by many animal associations.

On the other hand, if a future like Gattaca’s were brought upon our world we would see parents who desire the perfect designer baby purely for selfish reasons. A frightening notion that is reflected in the film. There are people who genuinely want to select from a shopping list of qualities that will ensure the perfect baby is born, even as slight as wanting blue eyes. However, according to the panel, designer babies are not on the horizon, as the technology is not available. The technology may not be there yet, but already there are rich wannabe mothers who can walk into a sperm bank with the sole intent of picking and choosing her perfect surrogate father with the ‘perfect’ characteristic and physical profile. In the film, race and gender no longer seem to form the basis of our underlying prejudices - it is those who are ‘genetically imperfect’ that are deemed the minorities and the underclass of society. Social, economic and political strata will be based purely on biological terms if the norm is a genetically enhanced human being, it suggests. History has forewarned us that science in the wrong hands can have apocalyptic effects.

So far, there have been no known harms associated with genetically engineered organisms. The risks of genetically engineered organisms must be assessed case by case. These risks can differ from one organism to another. In addition to risks of harm that can be determined, genetic engineering may also pose risks that we do not know enough about to identify. These disadvantages and others have been used to sway the opinion of the public against genetically altered agriculture. Are these disadvantages so great that we should discontinue researching the possibilities of genetic engineering? Only in time will we know what the real outcome of genetic engineering of agriculture is to our environment and our health.

Science fiction is science fact in the future. Although there is clearly a huge divide between the supposed 'near future' as depicted in  and the far more probable near future we are likely to face, the undeniably fundamental moral and social issues that surround the genetics debate is made for a fascinating, informative intellectual for us. The Gattaca future would ruin equality. Gattaca does not seek to plunge the viewer in to the scientific world of genetics or of the theories of genocide, but presents us with the consequences of a possible future where a race of genetically engineered super humans control the reigns of society. There are many ethical, moral and religious views concerning genetic engineering and responses on what should actually happen to genetic engineering on agriculture and humans.

I fully agree with this statement that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of genetic engineering because of the benefits it will bring to humans and improve the way of life but also extend the life expectancy to a high level. Diseases will be abolished as the genetically perfect child is born. Although there are risks involved not yet known to scientists, or whether if unknown diseases spring up. Yet still, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because of the joy it will bring to humans and the features of a best chills they could have. Despite this the Genome project that is the culmination of nearly 40 years work, resulting from the discovery that genes are chemicals, the structures of which contain a simple code. This project will obtain the information in the most efficient and least expensive way of engineering and advance technology further than ever before. Genetic information will enable people to see their future and even have the option of doing things to improve the quality of their lives, but at what costs? There have been technologies throughout history that have all had potential and real risks related to them. Proper assessments of these risks versus the benefits of the technology have often proven to be in favour of the benefits. Many critics of genetic engineering are not taking into consideration the possibilities, while some genetic engineers do not see the possible risks. There are always going to be negatives to every new technology, it just depends on how it is used and regulated as to if the positives can outweigh the negatives. Will the outcome of genetic engineering be determined by its risks or benefits? The answer to this question is one that only time will tell. Alternatively, scientists have broke through by genetically growing a human ear into a mouse’s back. There are certainly ethical and moral views on concerning this issue. People believe that discriminating animals and hurting them is morally wrong and should not happen, they believe that animals have feelings and thoughts also that scientists do not understand this and will continue to carry research on animals no matter what the consequences are.