Science has had an impact on all aspects of our lives including man himself. The rate of change brought about by scientific developments is fast and all encompassing. The development and enhancements of machines used by man occurs much faster than changes science has made to man himself. However, science, in the past, has always remained distant. Science has made incredible advances in production, transportation, and even entertainment; but the effect science has on the human today through genetic engineering is far more outstanding and can have a more important impact on life. The goal of The Human Genome Project is to identify and understand the genetic makeup of man. With this knowledge comes a barrage of ethical, legal, social, and moral implications that must be considered.

The first step to understanding genetic engineering is to know the start of its creation. Genetics achieved its first foothold on the secrets of nature's evolutionary process, when an Austrian Monk named Gregor Mendel developed the basics of how genetics work. Using this, scientist studied the characteristics of organisms for the next one hundred years following Mendel's discoveries. These early

Today there are many controversies relating to gene therapy and the ethical implications of the Human Genome Project. These controversies are heavily debated upon and studied but ultimately have to be resolved by society. One such controversy is that of safety. It is currently unknown what effects the body will have upon the introduction of a new gene into it. Premature experimentation runs the risk of unleashing dangerous and irreversible mutations into the gene pool. It is believed that through extended and meticulous testing on laboratory animals that an acceptable and safe procedure may someday be possible.

The question raised by moral implications is the religious belief that man was created in the image of an almighty being. If this is true, why is science interfering with a creation of “God?”

The Human Genome Project may present society with a potentially wonderful gift to fight the genetic diseases that kill and cripple us in today’s day and age. We must be very sure that we establish a firm ethical outline on which to base this gift. If we do not, we could be gift-wrapping a Pandora’s box for the 21st century and beyond.

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