What is your opinion of human genetic modification in respect to removing damaging defects?

Question

I'm interested to know peoples' opinions of the possibility of genetic modification of fertilised human eggs to remove genetic defects and such. (this is assuming that one day we have the technology to modify it and know the outcome)

Would you have issues with this if it became common practice?

My opinion (please don't see this as answering my own question, this is merely an opinion) is that since mankind is no longer truly effected by natural selection, it should be our responsibility to effectively move the species forward - removing hereditary diseases and conditions from the genome and such.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

I would not have any problems with genetic modification to cure disease.
However, your assumption that humans are not affected by natural selection is incorrect. Millions of people each year die from preventable diseases, protection against which are some of the most common inherited diseases known to science. Haemoglobin S, which causes sickle cell disease, is an inherited disease, as is thalassaemia. Both of these conditions, and others, while being deadly n their most severe forms, protect the populations against Malaria. If you eliminate these inherited traits, millions more people will die than you could ever save by by genetic manipulation.
Consider that the other common inherited traits may have beneficial side affects for carriers of the condition.

Selective pressure to evolve is still quite strong, particularly in countries with limited access to modern medicine, which unfortunately is most of the world.
Modern, life-saving medicine is quite recent - about 100 years old. That's not very long in evolutionary terms.

Answer 2

In my opinion, anything that can eliminate things such as genetic illnesses and defects that have a detrimental effect on a persons life, can only be a good thing. I do not, however, agree with 'designer babies' at all. I think that a parent who could want to tailor fit they're child to ease their own insecurities are very materialistic and naive, and should probably look at getting a nice car or a sweater, because, for example, the parent might not like their ears because they are too small, but who knows what the child's opinions of this will be? they might see it as cute. I know there are other issues people will try to argue with like big ears or feet or red hair (not that i see red hair as a bad thing, my point is that a lot of ignorant people are discriminative of this) and they may want to change this. In short, i don't see why a parent would want to change a child's heratige. We are all different for a reason, and the more research that goes into this, the further away from 'human' we become.

Answer 3

treating hereditary diseases, then fine, but i'm against the overuse of it..! most people want to extend the research to the point of engineering the "perfect" baby..! not just making him/her disease-free but pretty and intelligent and the like as well..! i mean, who gets to say what's perfect or what's beautiful..?! beauty is in the eye of the beholder..! we should only do so much..! GOD will take care of the rest..! =]

Answer 4

It can't come too soon.