Engineering ethics and the risks of human genetic cloning

Abstract Ethics are grounded on moral responsibility. Engineering ethics involves questions associated with moral ideals, policies, character, and relationships with concerned companies and people taking part in technological activities. Engineers working as a group or individually in a company undergo ethical issues regarding product conceptualization, design and testing problems that arise, or issues related to manufacturing, services, and sales. Morality-related issues also arise during teamwork and supervision. An engineer’s decisions affect products and services. Therefore, it is important to consider such a professional’s moral values and ethical decisions. Product safety and impact on company stakeholders and society at large are important. This paper will focus on genetic cloning in terms of the impact of engineering ethics on the profession of engineering and society.

Introduction Human genetic engineering depends on science and technology. It was invented to stop diseases from spreading. The technology has allowed scientists to alter the nature of genomes to terminate specific diseases that result from a genetic mutation. Genetic engineering helps fight health issues such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis and many other types of illnesses. As an example, the “bubble boy” disease is treatable through genetic engineering (Wulf, 2004). That means the technology can enhance the quality of life and prolong life span. Diseases in unborn children can also be a cure through genetic screening. However, human genetic engineering is a controversial topic. Many researchers are reluctant to continue research on human cloning due to their religious affiliations. Questions also arise whether human cloning should resemble humans or there is a need to seek permission to use human eggs, among others.

Engineering Ethics and Impact on Society Essay Scientists engaging in genetic engineering, especially cloning, are “playing God,” making the technology unacceptable. Despite the lack of knowledge on genetic engineering effects, trying to clone humans or their genomes is unethical. Alteration of human genomes is not reversible and the use of rDNA might result in extremely infectious diseases that can cause epidemics worldwide. This is attributed to the fact that some rDNA experiments use organisms responsible for causing diseases (Wulf, 2004).
Ethical questions also arise when human genes are utilized in non-human organisms to create semi-human life forms. Human genes are being used in peppers and tomatoes to hasten their growth, meaning vegetarians can as well be cannibals. What about eating pork with human genes for those who consume meats (Wulf, 2004)? Is there a number of human genes that if used in organisms renders them human? Mice have also been engineered to genetically to produce human sperm. What would be the psychological effect on an offspring reproduced from such a sperm? Clearly, genetic cloning is unethical and should be stopped. Impact Genetic engineering has greatly impacted the environment and humans in negative ways. Genetic engineering affects the environment in ways such as creating ecological issues. This has caused unpredictability of species that are genetically engineered hence leading to ecological imbalance. Accidents during genetic engineering can cause the development of a stronger type of bacteria or virus. This could lead to a serious outbreak of diseases in a region (Wulf, 2004).
Genetic engineering can also cause adverse effects on human health. If defective genes are replaced with that which is functional, this will mean that there will be diversity in genes hence humans will end up being susceptible to many forms of viral and bacterial diseases. It can also cause unpredictable allergic reactions to some people. Others would have toxins develop within their body. Genetic engineering leads to antibiotic resistance, rise in ethical and social issues. Human genes are now being inserted into peppers and tomatoes to enhance their growth. This means that people who eat such foods are now cannibals and vegetarians (Wulf, 2004). Genetic engineering also allows terrorist groups to develop biological weapons. These weapons are targeted at individuals who have specific genes. The organisms used in creating biological weapons are usually resistant to medications and they reproduce faster making them highly devastating. Ethics Applicable According to religious ethics, the sanctity of human life should be protected because of its intrinsic value. This includes even the life of the embryo. People who take part in the modification of living organisms are considered to have not ethics. Using such intelligence given by God is good but not at the expense of using it on humans (Wulf, 2004). It is not right for Christian to create embryos from scratch because it may seem like you’re mocking God and want to be his co-creator. According to bioethics, holding an individual from their potentials by altering their genetics can make them become less capable. Genetic engineering used in turning humans into slaves by altering their genetic code is considered unethical.

Guiding Future Engineering Decisions My position of viewing genetic engineering (cloning) as unnatural and causing problems and creating birth defects would be useful in guiding future engineering decisions. This can be done by being an activist of negative genetic engineering (VORST, 1998). My position can also help ensure ethics are considered before and during using genetic engineering. Law enforcement should be on people using this technology to create biological weapons. Monitoring of scientists’ work to ensure the benefit of genetic engineering outweighs its negative impacts on society.

Criticism If you were to argue “against” or “criticize” the position I have taken, my argument would be based on genetic engineering’s negative impacts being serious than how it can benefit us. Diseases such as birth defects and infertility of the genetically engineered individuals are something irreversible (VORST, 1998). I would respond to these arguments by ensuring there is control of the use of genetic engineering. I would also ensure ethics is always applied when it comes to using genetic engineering. People who use this technology as a biological weapon against society should be convicted and harsh actions are taken on them.

Expected Changes There are several expected changes in the practice of engineering if all engineers adopted the position I have taken. Some of the changes include making an ethical debate on genetic engineering practice. This can help ensure only those outcomes that cannot cause adverse effects to humans and the environment are used. They could also set proper limits to human experimentation. This can reduce the chances of humans being experimented on using harmful procedures. They would also call policymakers to intervene so that ethics can be considered when it comes to genetic engineering.