Ethics and Genetic Modification

We're asking here, what sort of people should there be?

What are the social implications of this?

Does it come under the goals of medicine?

The techniques of these have become much more advanced. It's fact rather than scifi now!

Types of Genetic Material

This could be somatic - affect the body but not inheritable or germline - inheritable changes to children.

So somatic types shouldn't raise any new ethical issues, it's another type of therapy.

Germline ones though, could potentially have far greater consequences. On their children, could they consent?

There are healthcare inequalities that could be worsened by this. Chances are only the rich could pay for this. Social Justice

Are you doing something to remove something we see as an illness, or are you doing something to improve something we view as a normal human state?

If you are doing something that's an improvement of normality, is that under the role of medicine?

"Playing God" - Theological Transgression of Divine Laws
Transgressing Natural Laws
Unacceptable Risk of Harm - errors would be irreversibl, the underlying risk is unknowable, any mistake will be passed down future generations
Threat to Genetic Diversity
Counter Productivity
Social Injustice
Who decides what we keep and what we chuck?
People could make those decisions on racism and sexism