Ethics of genetic engineering

Genetic engineering can be broadly understood as adding or removing a gene from the cell of an organism in order to either impart a desirable trait in it or remove an undesirable one. Humans have been genetically modifying crops and animals since time immemorial by cross breeding different varieties in order to get higher yielding crop varieties or better domestic animals. In the modern days, however, there is an issue with the production of genetically modified organisms. The difference between old times and new are; one that now the advances in technology have made it possible to insert the genes of plants into animals and vice versa or of entirely different species into each other, and second are the large scale productions as well as the costs involved. While till date there is no evidence of genetically modified foods being harmful for humans, the fact remains that no evidence cannot be called good evidence and that makes people reluctant to try them. The issues regarding genetic engineering revolve around the fact that the long term repercussion of genetically modifying organisms are unknown. Another issue that arises is in regards to genetically altering human genome with a potential of creating 'designer babies'. Human experimentation is a sensitive issue with issues regarding the rights of the donors, patients and also the embryos (where they are used for research). Human life has always been considered 'sacred' and with that any experiments dealing with human beings are not always welcomed by the general majority of people. Genetic engineering is used for the production of medicines, vaccines, better crops or for understanding and preventing diseases. However, since the long term effects of the same are unknown, it will always remain an ethical issue.