Genetic Manipulation

The science of genetic engineering is on the one hand, very exciting and could eventually be used to treat all kinds of diseases or reduce the number of people born with physical disablement. On the other hand, it is often referred to as 'man playing God'.

Who is to decide at what point genetic engineering stops becoming an amazing cure-all and starts to become a bespoke recipe for whatever human, animal or plant you would like to produce? The possibilities are frightening. At the moment, scientists have already introduced into our world synthetic insulin and other human proteins including one controlling human growth. These are no doubt life-enhancing for people affected, and future research could bring about perhaps the recipe for growing new organs. I imagine that if you have defective kidneys and have to spend half your life connected to a dialysis machine, you would welcome such research with open arms. If genetic engineering was only used at improving the lives of people already suffering, surely it can only be a good thing. The danger lies in scientists and entrepreneurs creating a world 'to order'. If for instance, you could choose what type of baby you desire, at some point in the future you may be able to put forth a 'shopping list' of characteristics, and at the right price, anything could be possible. You may think that if a couple simply want a blonde, blue-eyed boy then where's the harm? But why stop there? You may as well go the whole hog and have them choose what aspects of the human brain you would like your kids to have too. If you're a musical family, why not breed a concert pianist? If you like football, put 'England Centre Forward' on your list. Oh yes, and you don't want him to feel inadequate in the locker room, so make sure he is given a large penis too! Of course the social implications are enormous.
Recently in the news was this article-

Science told: hands off gay sheep
Experiments that claim to ‘cure’ homosexual rams spark anger Courtesy The Times

SCIENTISTS are conducting experiments to change the sexuality of “gay” sheep in a programme that critics fear could pave the way for breeding out homosexuality in humans. The technique being developed by American researchers adjusts the hormonal balance in the brains of homosexual rams so that they are more inclined to mate with ewes. It raises the prospect that pregnant women could one day be offered a treatment to reduce or eliminate the chance that their offspring will be homosexual. Experts say that, in theory, the “straightening” procedure on humans could be as simple as a hormone supplement for mothers-to-be, worn on the skin like an anti-smoking nicotine patch. The research, at Oregon State University in the city of Corvallis and at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, has caused an outcry. Martina Navratilova, the lesbian tennis player who won Wimbledon nine times, and scientists and gay rights campaigners in Britain have called for the project to be abandoned. Navratilova defended the “right” of sheep to be gay. She said: “How can it be that in the year 2006 a major university would host such homophobic and cruel experiments?” She said gay men and lesbians would be “deeply offended” by the social implications of the tests.

Of course, being a gay man, it is a worrying situation. Although being gay has never been perhaps the easiest way of life, it is what I am, and I am quite happy to be so. Any problems that I have encountered have not been from within myself, but from a heterosexual world that still views homosexuality as being somehow wrong, against nature, or defective in some way. I could scream "Gay rights!" from the rooftops for the rest of my life and it wouldn't make an ounce of difference to those people who have already made up their minds that homosexuality is either a 'sin' or is at least something that could and should be eradicated from the human race as being 'imperfect'. This course of thinking is not far removed from the Nazis' view of an Aryan Master Race. It is not my place to try to defend gays en masse, because as with the rest of the human race, there are good gay people and bad ones too. I just find it hard to believe that there are people in our society that are thrilled by the prospect of eradicating the diversity that exists in the human condition at present. How many other things should be eradicated or added to form the Perfect Human? - perhaps such things as IQ, height, strength and longevity could be added, and while we're at it we could also rid the human race of ginger hair, uneven teeth, flat feet, (smelly feet maybe?), baldness or even big noses! If that is the kind of Brave New World that we all have to look forward to, I'm hopeful that I won't be around to see it.