Ethics, Politics, and Genetic Knowledge

Abstract

possible for parents to custom design their offspring, manipulating genes to produce children with the superior traits strength, intelligence, beauty the parent or parents desire. But that day is still a long way off. The relationship between genes and qualities such as intelligence and athletic prowess turns out to be so complex that the dream or nightmare of designer babies may never become a reality. That does not mean we should not worry about the possibility. But, for now, we should not spend too much of our worry budget on it. There are far more urgent things to be concerned about today in the field of biotechnology. Before discussing these things, however, we should pause to reflect on the blessings that genetic knowledge and the biotechnologies it makes possible have delivered or will deliver soon. Much genetic knowledge has been generated by inquiry aimed at curing diseases, healing afflictions, and ameliorating suffering. Valuable biotechnologies have been developed for the purpose of advancing human health and well-being. This is to be applauded. Moreover, genetic knowledge, like knowledge in other fields of intellectual inquiry, is intrinsically valuable. Even apart from its utility in medicine, such knowledge is humanly fulfilling and, indeed, fulfilling in a special way since much genetic knowledge is a species of self-knowledge. Advances in genetics help us to explore and understand more fully that greatest of mysteries, namely, the mystery of man himself. These advances, too, deserve our applause. Now let us turn to the worries the urgent ones.