AN ETHICAL INQUIRY INTO GENETIC ENGINEERING AND REORDERING OF NATURE

Abstract

The paper reflects on the use of the medical technology, genetic engineering. It exposes the different forms of the application of this practice and the obvious benefits. Among other things, the paper acknowledges that genetic engineering has contributed enormously to the treatment of many genetic disorders and several deadly diseases. However, polemics have created a problem of blind acceptance or rejection of genetic engineering. This paper is an ethical evaluation and arguments for and against the practices of genetic engineering. Its import lies in provision of ethical guideline as to what should be accepted or rejected of these technological interventions on genes production. Hence, the paper is aimed at exposition of these arguments and drawing their ethical implications. Employing expository and critical methods, the paper argued that genetic engineering is like every other scientific innovations which has both positive and negative effects; and hence it cannot be rejected or abolished since its benefits far outweigh, and compensate for, its shortcomings. This is with the exception of germline genetic engineering which should be rejected because it disrupts nature and the created order in the universe in such a manner that endangers the continuous existence of the human species.