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Is Genetic Engineering Ethical?

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Is Genetic Engineering Ethical?
Eng 112-73
February 7, 2009
Is Genetic Engineering on Humans Ethical?
Blackford, Russel. “Genetically Engineered People Autonomy and Moral Virtue.” March 2010, Vol. 29 Issue 1, p82-84.
The author comments on the article of Mark Walker which proposes that there is no moral difference between genetic interventions to ensure that children will develop moral virtues. The author expresses his support of Walker 's thesis of combinations that could help develop appropriate dispositions of character in accessible and typical human environments. He also mentions the genetic engineering explanation given by Walker on how to achieve such combination, which is through the replacement of strands of DNA within early embryos and the use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). I will use this information in my paper to further my genetic engineering thought process.

Adam B. Lawing
Annotated Bibliography
Dr. R.M. Jones
Eng 112-73
February 7, 2011
Is Genetic Engineering on Humans Ethical?
Fenton, Elizabeth. “Genetic Enhancement-A Threat to Human Life?” January 2008, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p1-7
Genetic enhancement is the modification of the human genome for the purpose of improving capacities or ‘adding in’ desired characteristics. Although this technology is still largely futuristic, debate over the moral issues it raises has been significant. George Annas an author has recently leveled a new attack against genetic enhancement, drawing on human rights as his primary weapon. In this article he argues that Annas’ appeal to human rights ultimately falls flat, and so provides no good reason to object to genetic technology. Annas’ argument against genetic technology fails to do just this. He shows that his appeal to human rights adds little to the debate over the ethical questions raised by genetic technology. I will use this to help learn more about the human rights part of genetic engineering.

Adam B. Lawing
Annotated Bibliography
Dr. R.M. Jones
Eng 112-73



Bibliography: Dr. R.M. Jones Eng 112-73 February 7, 2011 Engineering on Humans Ethical? Andreadis, Athena. “The Tempting Illusion of Genetic Virtue.”  March 2010, Vol. 29 Issue 1, p76-78. The author comments on the article of Mark Walker and his proposed Genetic Virtue Program (GVP), which suggests that it is possible to improve virtue by preimplantation selection or in utero engineering. The author cites the errors of Walker 's proposal specifically on its scientific foundation. He further emphasizes that one fundamental problem of the proposal is that there are no genes for virtue. He even contradicts the suggestion of Walker that genetic programs are fixed and simple. He concludes on the lack of scientific basis of Walker 's GVP. I will use this in my paper for more information on the GVP.

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