The ethical challenges of the biomedical revolution Essay

The ethical challenges of the biomedical revolution - Essay Example The concept of genetic engineering has risen due to the realization that some medical conditions emanate from genetic abnormalities. Genetic engineering is not a new practice. For example, farmers have long tried to enhance productivity by crossbreeding plants to eliminate undesirable traits and enhance the positive traits. The same case applies to people to explain the root of diseases and highlight disorders that are likely to be transmitted to offspring. The application raises the question of ‘breeding people’ to produce a superior species with disease resistance and desirable traits such as body strength and looks. In fact, there is an increase in the number of women seeking artificial insemination due to the reducing values of traditional institutions of the family. Therefore, the concept of genetics as used today creates ethical challenges because it increases social strains and treats people like animals and plants, which are bred to produce superior offsprings (2 3). Though the above case is practical in the present day, there are possibilities for improvement that would reduce the ethical concerns in the future. For example, germline therapy is a proposed genetic therapy that would erase defective genes and eliminate the possibility of passing the genes to the future generations (26). Though the technology is still in the growth stages, it holds the promise of reducing disease prevalence in the future and thus reduce the cost of healthcare for future generations. It is an advanced form of genetic engineering with an ability to revolutionize the field of healthcare and reduce human suffering. Therefore, though the perception of genetic engineering has a negative outlook, there are possibilities of development that would overcome the ethical concerns held about biomedical revolution. However, religion places God’s supremacy beyond the reaches of human