In the UK, stem cell research was illegal because the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 said that such research could only be used for the treatment of infertility. However, legalisation permitting the research was passed by Parliament in February 2001.
Some people agree with the statement and are against genetic engineering for many reasons. Genetic engineering has too little information about long term consequences. Secondly it has effects that would be irreversible, so if anything went wrong it would be permanent. Furthermore it places too much power into hands of scientists who could use genetic engineering to act like Dr Frankenstein to produce scientifically created human beings. It treats the human body as a commodity from plants Finally it offers the possibility of people having to be genetically screened before getting life insurance, senior jobs etc. with anyone likely to develop an illness or die young being refused, and therefore being discriminated against.
Some Christians are against genetic engineering for many reasons. God created the genetic make up of each person at conception, and we have no right to interfere with this. Secondly, genetic engineering is ‘playing God’ and therefore a great sin. Lastly, it is wrong to make the earth perfect as only heaven is perfect.
Some Muslims are opposed to genetic engineering because Allah created the genetic make up of each person at conception, and we have no right to interfere with this. Also, scientists who are trying to create life from stem cells are acting as God. To compare your self to God in any way is Shirk (the worst sin for a Muslim) Thirdly, life begins at fertilisation, and embryo research violates the Sanctity of Life in the same way that abortion does.
Some people disagree with the statement and think genetic engineering is a good idea. This is because of a number of things. It offers the prospect of cures for currently incurable diseases. Furthermore, it is done in other countries and so is available to those rich enough to travel and pay for it. Research into stem cell cloning would use embryos until it was easier to use adult cells. Finally, genetic research is closely monitored by the law, but has vast potential benefits
Some Christians are in favour of genetic engineering because Jesus was a healer, and told Christians to do all they could to cure disease. He told his disciples, ‘When you enter a town and are welcomed there…Heal the sick’ (Luke 10 v 8-9) Also, using our scientific knowledge to find out more about and improve human life is good stewardship of creation, and the gifts we have been given, in the same way that researching new drugs is. Creating people would be wrong, as it would be taking over God’s role in the creation of life, but creating cells is working with God. Embryos cannot be regarded as potential human life until they are 14 days old, and this is the time limit set by HFEA for genetic research. Finally, “ Jesus of Nazareth was a healer. He cured diseases. clearly, where genetic manipulation is the means of healing diseases it is to be welcomed” quotation from the Methodist Church
Some Christians, mainly Roman Catholics, believe genetic engineering is acceptable as long as it is only for curing diseases and does not use human embryos. They agree with it because Jesus was a healer and it is a good stewardship, but disagree because they believe life begins at conception. Also, killing an embryo is therefore killing a human life which is banned by the Church and goes against the Ten Commandments, ‘ Do not murder’ and the sanctity of Life. This is the view that all life is created by God in His own image. It is therefore precious, holy, special and sacred. Because God gives life, only He should take it away. Embryos used in research have been produced by methods with which the Catholic Church disagrees.“ To create and destroy human lives simply to extract cells for research is wrong. Such procedures use human lives as disposable objects” quotation from Archbishop of Westminster and Glasgow
Some Muslims believe that genetic engineering is a good thing as long as it is done for the cure of disease and not to produce ‘perfect humans’. They would support the work of the HFEA and genetic engineering because the Qur’an and Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) teach Muslims to do all that they can do to cure disease. Using our scientific knowledge to find out more about and improve life is good guardianship of creation, and the gifts we have been given, in the same way that researching new drugs is. Furthermore, creating people would be wrong, as it would be taking over God’s role in the creation of life, but creating cells is working with God. Embryos cannot be regarded as a potential human life until they are 14 days old, and this is the time limit set by the HFEA for genetic research. This ties in with the teachings of the Shari’ah on abortion
My own feelings about this statement ‘Only God has the right to interfere with our genes’ is that it is wrong. I think this firstly because I am an Atheist. However, even if I was a believer in God I would not agree that God is the only one who can interfere with our genes, as it is helping humans to be relieved of illnesses and in some cases helping the disease from being inherited by their children. Embryo research is a good thing as well as is helps to find out what is a successful treatment before it is used on a human that has already been living for years, as the embryo is not even considered a potential life yet, I think it is fine to carry out experiments on them.
