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Genetic Engineering and the Autonomous Individual
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 January 2010
Extract
The aim of this paper is to expose the unique muddle in which moral philosophy finds itself with regard to genetic engineering. The latter can be essentially defined as the correcting of nature's mistakes at their source, the DNA acid molecule of the gene. I shall discuss the moral nature of genetic engineering with respect to a single issue: the potential harm it may inflict upon the autonomous individual. I shall also consider the distinctions between genetic engineering and other activities affecting human existence, in order to establish that the moral issues presented by genetic engineering are unique to it.
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- Information
- Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements , Volume 22: Moral Philosophy and Contemporary Problems , September 1987 , pp. 213 - 229
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy and the contributors 1987
References
1 Gene: the biological unit of heredity; it is self-reproducing and located in a definite position on a particular chromosome.
2 Mutation: a permanent transmissible change in the genetic make-up of an individual, such that the characteristics of an offspring are different from those of his parents.
3 I do not wish to imply that clonal processes make no biological sense where humans are concerned. See further Eisenberg, (1976).Google Scholar
4 See further Lederberg (1976).
5 Morrow, (1976).Google Scholar
6 Motulsky, (1973).Google Scholar
7 Neville, (1976).Google Scholar
8 Ladd, (1982)Google Scholar; also Callahan, (1976).Google Scholar
9 Crow, (1968).Google Scholar
10 Murphy, (1982).Google Scholar
11 Hubbard, (1982).Google Scholar
12 Gene pool: the gametes of all mating individuals which comprise an assembly from which the genes of the next generation are drawn.
13 Murphy, (1975).Google Scholar
14 Ladd, (1982).Google Scholar
15 Anscombe, (1970).Google Scholar
16 I will not consider the controversial issue of the causal connection between an individual genetic change and the gene pool of future generations.
17 See further Ramsey, (1970).Google Scholar
18 Phenotype: the outward visible expression of the hereditary constitution of an organism.
19 See further Ramsey, (1970).Google Scholar
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21 The technique that is intended to avoid damaging consequences, is in fact inadequate; see Valenstein, (1973) 238.Google Scholar
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23 It is also an established fact that the genetic differences between members of the same race are much greater than are those between different races of the same species.
24 On that issue see Neville, (1976).Google Scholar