Human Cent' Therapy 
EUGENIC GENETIC ENGINEERING 
The fourth level is 'eugenic' genetic engineering. This area has received 
considerable attention in the popular press, with the result that at 
times unjustified fears have been produced because of claims that 
scientists might soon be able to re-make human beings. In fact, 
however, such traits as personality, character, formation of body 
organs, fertility, intelligence, physical, mental, and emotional charac- 
teristics, etc., are enormously complex. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, 
of unknown genes that interact in totally unknown ways probably 
contribute to each such trait. Environmental influences also interact 
with these genetic backgrounds in poorly understood ways. With 
time, as more is learned about each of these complex traits, individ- 
ual genes will be discovered that play specific roles. Undoubtedly, 
disorders will be recognized that are caused by defects in these genes. 
Then, somatic cell gene therapy could be employed to correct the 
defect. But the concept of ‘re-making a human’ (i.e., eugenic genetic 
engineering) is not realistic at present. 
Complex polygenic traits may never be influenced in a predictable 
manner by genetic engineering, but, at a minimum, developing the 
techniques for producing such changes will take many years. There- 
fore, there is no point to a scientific discussion of eugenic genetic 
engineering at present — there is simply no science to discuss. But 
from a philosophical standpoint, a discussion of the ethics of eugenic 
genetic engineering is very important. After all. what is it that makes 
us human? Why are we what we are? Arc there genes which are in- 
deed ‘human’ genes? If we were to alter one of these genes, would 
we be other than human? These are important questions for us to 
think about and discuss. 
If eugenic genetic engineering were possible today, I would be 
strongly opposed to its use on philosophical and ethical grounds. 
Our knowledge of how the human body works is still elementary. 
Our understanding of how the mind, both conscious and subcon- 
scious, functions is even more rudimentary. The genetic basis for 
instinctual behavior is largely unknown. Our disagreements about 
what constitutes ‘humanhood’ are notorious. And our insight into 
what, and to what extent, genetic components might play a role in 
what we comprehend as our ‘spiritual’ side is almost non-existent. We 
simply should not meddle in areas where we are so ignorant. Regard- 
less of how fast our technological abilities increase, there should 
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Recombinant DNA Research, Volume 12 
