Science often appears as a close cousin of sorcery bringing to life images of Merlin the magician of old. This is no where so clearly evidenced than in the explosive advances of Biotechnology where Biotechnologists may well prove to be the ”Sorcerer’s Apprentices” of the 21st century. Their advances have raised challenging issues of ethics, morals, and even our theological perspectives with their largest advances being made in the controversial field of genetics with farmers already genetically manipulating plants to produce more and better produce. However, the practice of modern genetic engineering includes such techniques as gene deletion, gene doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes that takes the process of genetic modification from limitations imposed by the existing characteristics of a species, and creates something that could not exist in nature.

However, one cannot help but note that the astonishing advances in the field of microbiology now offer new remedies for many of mankind’s most illusive and devastating diseases and even many genetic defects despite the fact that some in the religious sphere voice concerns regarding some of the provocative Biblical implications. These concerns center on the origins of life and the scientific terms being used to describe it including terms such as the evolution of organic molecules, traits and adaptations that appear to take much of the mystery out of how life began.

Genetic engineering is based on our current understanding, decoding of DNA, that has revolutionized our ideas about what life is, and how it functions. Already this technology is used to clone farm animals, to solve crimes, and to probe patients’ chromosomes for signs of disorders that may show up decades hence but virtually everyone agrees that we are still at the earliest stages of the biotech revolution. Getting on the bandwagon of research, several companies are already developing machines, expected to be commonplace by 2020, that will reveal an individual’s DNA at lightning speed. From this technology, the medical profession hopes to engineer and clone pigs in order to use their organs for transplant into humans and fine-tune other farm animals for optimum meat, milk, and egg production.

Other issues to be considered are that given our historical propensity to judge one another as superior or inferior the question arises as in addition, how personal privacy may be affected as insurance companies could use the human genetic data to shun genetically “defective” customers and employers could seek to exclude genetically undesirable applicants. Then of even greater concern is the possibility that gene-altering technologies could open the way to genetic weapons of mass destruction-designer germs-that would be cheaper by far than atomic weapons, but potentially even more devastating. The reports of investigative journalists suggest that there are laboratories working even now to refine gene weapons that target specific ethnic groups. Knowing that this possibility exists isn’t it questionable how gene technology might constrain our future capability for ethical choice and for those who believe in divinity could the behaviors that it generates endanger our souls.

While no one knows the definitive answer, the limitless possibilities of this technology cause many religious advocates to fear that the ultimate application of gene technology to humans will result in a super race designed to exclude defects and enhance capabilities that only the rich will able to afford. They additionally fear that genetic modification will inevitably entail procedures for embryo cloning, which the religious right will conceive as murder of innocents. Given all of these concerns, we must all examine our conscience to determine which side of these thorny ethical questions we will stand on be it the possible dangers of genetically engineered food, the potential of creating a super race, or the ability to heal the medical dilemma facing our loved ones.

[tags]Biotechnology, religious concerns regarding genetics, genetically engineered foods, embryo cloning, super race, germ warfare, DNA decoding, changing genetic makeup[/tags]