Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-5wl6q Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-10T18:56:20.831Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
Series:   Elements in the Problems of God

God and Human Genetic Engineering

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2023

David Basinger
David Basinger
Affiliation:
Roberts Wesleyan College, New York

Summary

Science and Religion have often intersected on issues. However, no set of current scientific advances is more promising and problematic for religious (or non-religious) individuals than those that fall under the heading of Human Genetic Engineering, as these advances have the potential not only to cure human disease, remove undesirable human traits, and enhance desirable human traits but to pass on these modifications to future generations. This Element is an introductory overview of these advances, the ethical issues they raise, and the lines of reasoning, including religious lines of reasoning, used to support or challenge these advances. The author's goal is to suggest a way of assessing these advances that will give us, whether religious or not, a solid basis for deciding these issues for ourselves and engaging in respectful, constructive dialog with others.
Get access

Keywords

genetic engineeringgod and sciencechanging humansCRISPRmodifying DNA
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements in the Problems of God
Online ISBN: 9781009269360
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 21 December 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AgBiotechNet. (2001). Religious Beliefs Influence Views of Genetic Engineering, www.cabi.org/agbiotechnet/news/523.Google Scholar
American Human. (2021). Animals in Research, www.americanhumane.org/position-statement/animals-in-research/.Google Scholar
Arcata, J. (2021). If Mosquitoes Were Eradicated, What Would Be the Consequences? NewScientist, www.newscientist.com/lastword/mg25233643-900-if-mosquitoes-were-eradicated-what-would-be-the-consequences/.Google Scholar
Basinger, D. (2020a). Religious Diversity (Pluralism). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2020/entries/religious-pluralism/.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Basinger, D. (2020b). Affirmative Position: It is Reasonable to Believe That Only One Religion is True. In Peterson, M. & VanArragon, R., eds., Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Religion. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell, pp. 243–252.Google Scholar
Basinger, D. (2013). Introduction to Open Theism. In Diller, J. & Kasher, A., eds. Models of God and Alternative Ultimate Realities. New York: Springer, pp. 263–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beard, M. (2020). Ethics Explorer: Judgment and Moral Intuition. The Ethics Center, https://ethics.org.au/ethics-explainer-ethical-judgement-and-moral-intuition/ Biotechnical.Google Scholar
Bergman, M. (2019). Perspectives on Gene Editing. Harvard Gazette, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/01/perspectives-on-gene-editing/(Bergman, 2019).Google Scholar
Britannica. (2020). Categorical Imperative. Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/topic/categorical-imperative.Google Scholar
Brokowski, C. & Adli, M. (2019) CRISPR Ethics: Moral Considerations for Applications of a Powerful Tool. Science Direct, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022283618305862.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callaway, E. (2018). Controversial CRISPR “Gene Drives” Tested in Mammals for the First Time. Nature, www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05665-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chignell, A. (2018). The Ethics of Belief. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-belief/.Google Scholar
Civilsdaily. (2019). What Are the Ethical Concerns Involved in Gene Editing Technology? www.civilsdaily.com/mains/what-are-the-ethical-concerns-involved-in-gene-editing-technology-discuss/.Google Scholar
Coffey, D. (2020). What is a Gene Drive? LIVESCI=NCE, www.livescience.com/gene-drive.html.Google Scholar
Cohen, J. (2019). China’s CRISPR Push in Animals Promises Better Meat, Novel Therapies, and Pig Organs for People. Science, www.science.org/content/article/china-s-crispr-push-animals-promises-better-meat-novel-therapies-and-pig-organs-people.Google Scholar
Conserve Future Energy. (n.d.). Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-cons-gmos.php.Google Scholar
Corbyn, Z. (2021). Is It Possible to Change a Chicken’s Sex before It Hatches? The Guardian, www.theguardian.com/food/2021/jan/31/good-vibrations-sound-waves-eggs-ethical-slaughter-male-chicks.Google Scholar
Dalechek, D. (2021). CRISPR and the Brain, Integrated DNA Technologies, www.idtdna.com/pages/community/blog/post/crispr-and-the-brain.Google Scholar
DerSarkissian, C. (2022). Should You Screen Your Genes before You Conceive? Grow by WebMD, www.webmd.com/baby/genetic-tests-before-pregnancy.Google Scholar
Doudna, J. & Sternberg, S. (2017). A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution, Boston: Mariner Books.Google Scholar
Dunning, H. (2021). Simple Genetic Modification Aims to Stop Mosquitoes Spreading Malaria. Imperial College London, www.imperial.ac.uk/news/219394/simple-genetic-modification-aims-stop-mosquitoes/.Google Scholar
Eikelboom, R. (2011). Why Did God Create Mosquitoes? Think Christian, https://thinkchristian.net/why-did-god-create-mosquitoes/discussion.Google Scholar
Evans, J. (2021). Setting Ethical Limits on Human Gene Editing after the Fall of the Somatic/Germline Barrier. PNAS, 118(22). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2004837117.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Center, Fertility. (n.d.). Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). Fertility and Reproductive Center, https://fertility.wustl.edu/treatments-services/genetic-counseling/preimplantation-genetic-testing-pgt/.Google Scholar
Fletcher, J. (1966). Situation Ethic: The New Morality. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press.Google Scholar
Fliesler, N. (2020). After Decades of Evolution, Gene Therapy Arrives. Boston Children’s Hospital, https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-history.Google Scholar
Gardner, A. (2020). Your Guide to Prenatal Testing. Grow by WedMD, www.webmd.com/baby/your-guide-prenatal-testing.Google Scholar
Genes and Health. (n.d.). Genes Made Easy. Genes & Health, www.genesandhealth.org/genes-your-health/genes-made-easy.Google Scholar
Genetics and Society. (2006). Inheritable Genetic Modification Arguments Pro and Con. Center for Genetics and Society, www.geneticsandsociety.org/internal-content/inheritable-genetic-modification-arguments-pro-and-con.Google Scholar
Genome Research. (2017). What Are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? NIH National Genome Research Institute, www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genome-Editing/ethical-concerns.Google Scholar
Goodyear Chiropractic. (2019). Stem Cell Therapy: Is it Safe? www.goodyearhealth.com/resources/blog/stem-cell-therapy-is-it-safe/.Google Scholar
Gragnolati, A. (2022). What Are the Pros and Cons of Gene Therapy? GoodRx Health, www.goodrx.com/health-topic/gene-therapy/gene-therapy-pros-cons.Google Scholar
Gynyell, C. & Douglas, T. (2014). Stocking the Genetic Supermarket: Reproductive Genetic Technologies and Collective Action Problems. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402029/.Google Scholar
Hryhorowicz, M., Zeyland, J., Slomski, R. & Lipinski, D. (2017). Genetically Modified Pigs as Organ Donors for Xenotransplantation. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5617878/.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Human Subjects Protection. (n.d.). Resolving Conflicts between Ethical Principles. Yale University Human Subjects Protection, https://assessment-module.yale.edu/human-subjects-protection/resolving-conflicts-between-ethical-principles.Google Scholar
Hunter, J. (2022). Three Ethical Issues around Pig Heart Transplants. BBC News, www.bbc.com/news/world-59951264.Google Scholar
Innovation. (n.d.). Genetically Engineered Animals: Frequently Asked Questions. Biotechnology Innovation Organization, https://archive.bio.org/articles/genetically-engineered-animals-frequently-asked-questions.Google Scholar
Johnson, T. (2019). Human Genetic Enhancement Might Soon be Possible – but Where Do You Draw the Line? The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/human-genetic-enhancement-might-soon-be-possible-but-where-do-we-draw-the-line-127406.Google Scholar
Karj, T. (2013). The Role of Virtue Ethics in Determining Acceptable Limits of Genetic Enhancement. Theological Research, https://czasopisma.upjp2.edu.pl/theologicalresearch/article/view/154.Google Scholar
Kelmer, S. & Lohr, A. (2022). Cell & Gene Therapy Investment Outlook in 2022 & beyond. Cell & Gene, www.cellandgene.com/doc/cell-gene-therapies-investment-outlook-in-beyond-0001.Google Scholar
Kozlov, M. (2022). Clinical Trials for Pig-to-Human Organ Transplants Inch Closer. Nature, www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01861-2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lagay, F. (2000). Is Genetic Enhancement a Gift to Future Generations? AMA Journal of Ethics, https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/genetic-enhancement-gift-future-generations/2000-12.Google Scholar
Locke, L. (2020). The Promise of CRISPR for Human Germline Editing and the Perils of “Playing God.” National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047104/.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Living Oceans. (n.d.). Genetically Modified Salmon, https://livingoceans.org/initiatives/salmon-farming/issues/genetically-modified-salmon.Google Scholar
Lui, S. (2020). Legal Reflections on the Case of Genome-Edited Babies. Global Health Research and Policy, https://ghrp.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41256-020-00153-4.Google Scholar
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Gene Therapy. www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/gene-therapy/about/pac-20384619.Google Scholar
MedlinePlus, . (n.d.). How Does Gene Therapy Work? National Library of Medicine, https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/therapy/procedures/.Google Scholar
Melillo, G. (2022). A Look at the Current, Future State of Cell and Gene Therapies in the United States. AJMC, www.ajmc.com/view/a-look-at-the-current-future-state-of-cell-and-gene-therapies-in-the-united-states.Google Scholar
Missouri School of Medicine. (n.d.). Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering. Center for Health Ethics, https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/gene-therapy.Google Scholar
McQueen, H. (2022). The 10 Most Expensive Drugs in the US, Period. GoodRx Health, www.goodrx.com/healthcare-access/drug-cost-and-savings/most-expensive-drugs-period.Google Scholar
National Human Genome Research Institute. (n.d.). Cloning Fact Sheet, www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genome-Editing/ethical-concerns.Google Scholar
NewScientist. (2022). CRISPR: A Technology That Can Be Used to Edit Genes, .www.newscientist.com/definition/what-is-crispr/.Google Scholar
Patterson, R., Rothstein, J. & Barbey, A. (2012). Reasoning, Cognitive Control, and Moral Intuition. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2012.00114/full.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pew Trust. (2001). Views on Genetic Modification of Food Influenced by Religious Beliefs, Not Just Science, www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases-and-statements/2001/07/26/views-on-genetic-modification-of-food-influenced-by-religious-beliefs-not-just-science.Google Scholar
Pew Research Center. (2016a). U.S. Public Opinion on the Future of Gene Editing, www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/07/26/u-s-public-opinion-on-the-future-use-of-gene-editing/.Google Scholar
Pew Research Center. (2016b). Human Enhancement: The Scientific and Ethical Dimensions of Striving for Perfection, www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/07/26/human-enhancement-the-scientific-and-ethical-dimensions-of-striving-for-perfection/.Google Scholar
Qaiser, F. (2020). Study: There Is No Country Where Heritable Human Genome Editing Is Permitted. Forbes, www.forbes.com/sites/farahqaiser/2020/10/31/study-there-is-no-country-where-heritable-human-genome-editing-is-permitted/?sh=64d143327617.Google Scholar
Questions. (n.d.). How Should a Christian View Genetic Engineering? Got Questions, www.gotquestions.org/genetic-engineering.html.Google Scholar
Ramamoorth, M. & Narvekar, A. (2015). Non Viral Vectors in Gene Therapy: An Overview. NIH National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4347098.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reardon, S. (2020). Step Aside CRISPR, RNA Editing is Taking Off. Nature, www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00272-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Regalodo, A. (2019). China’s CRISPR Twins Might Have Had Their Brains Inadvertently Enhanced. MIT Technology Review, www.technologyreview.com/2019/02/21/137309/the-crispr-twins-had-their-brains-altered/.Google Scholar
Rosner, F. (1999). Pig Organs for Transplantation into Humans: A Jewish View. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, https://read.qxmd.com/read/10618731/pig-organs-for-transplantation-into-humans-a-jewish-view (Rosner, 1999).Google Scholar
Savulescu, J. (2015). Five Reasons We Should Embrace Gene-Editing Research on Human Embryos. PHY-ORG, https://phys.org/news/2015-12-embrace-gene-editing-human-embryos.html.Google Scholar
Shellnutt, K. (2020). Engineered in His Image? Christians More Cautious about Gene Editing. Christianity Today, www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/december/pew-survey-global-bioethics-gene-editing-crispr-christians.html (Shellnutt, 2020).Google Scholar
Sigma Repository. (2021). NPWH Position Statement: Prepregnancy Genetic Carrier Screening, https://sigma.nursingrepository.org/handle/10755/21543.Google Scholar
Spina bifida. (n.d.). Spina Bifida: Disease at a Glance. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/7673/spina-bifida.Google Scholar
StopGM. (2019). The Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Animals, https://stopgm.org.uk/the-pros-and-cons-of-genetically-modified-animals/.Google Scholar
Stratton-Lake, P. (2020). Intuitionism in Ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Zalta, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2020/entries/intuitionism-ethics/ (Stratton-Lake, 2020).Google Scholar
Study.com. (2022). Animal Cloning, https://study.com/learn/lesson/animal-cloning-process-pros-cons.html (Study, 2022).Google Scholar
Synthego. (n.d.). CRISPR in Agriculture: An Era of Food Evolution, www.synthego.com/blog/crispr-agriculture-foods.Google Scholar
Torrella, K. (2022). Gene Editing Could Upend the Future of Factory Farming – for Better or Worse. Vox, www.vox.com/22994946/gene-editing-farm-animals-livestock-crispr-genetic-engineering.Google Scholar
UFDA. (2022). How Gene Therapy Can Cure or Treat Diseases. US Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-gene-therapy-can-cure-or-treat-diseases.Google Scholar
USDA. (2022). Recent Trends in GE Adoption. US Department of Agriculture, www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-u-s/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption/.Google Scholar
UK Health System. (n.d.). Preconception and Prenatal Genetic Counseling. University of Kansas Health System, www.kansashealthsystem.com/care/specialties/maternal-fetal-medicine/preconception-prenatal-genetic-counseling.Google Scholar
Topics, Yg. (2021). What is Gene Therapy? www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-gene-therapy/.Google Scholar
Wallace, J. (2021). If Mosquitoes Were Eradicated, What Would Be the Consequences? NewScientist, www.newscientist.com/lastword/mg25233643-900-if-mosquitoes-were-eradicated-what-would-be-the-consequences/.Google Scholar
Warmflash, D. (2019). Religious Beliefs Shape Our Thinking on Cloning, Stem Cells, and Gene Editing. Church and State, https://churchandstate.org.uk/2019/11/religious-beliefs-shape-our-thinking-on-cloning-stem-cells-and-gene-editing/.Google Scholar
Wright, G. & Lavery, T. (n.d.). Scientific Method. TechTarget, www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/scientific-method.Google Scholar

Save element to Kindle

To save this element to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

God and Human Genetic Engineering
  • David Basinger, Roberts Wesleyan College, New York
  • Online ISBN: 9781009269360
Available formats
×

Save element to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

God and Human Genetic Engineering
  • David Basinger, Roberts Wesleyan College, New York
  • Online ISBN: 9781009269360
Available formats
×

Save element to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

God and Human Genetic Engineering
  • David Basinger, Roberts Wesleyan College, New York
  • Online ISBN: 9781009269360
Available formats
×