In order to understand why the debate has risen into vast proportions it is best to define what genetic enhancement can offer, in terms of science and healing, and what it should exclude. Genetic enhancement has everything to do with changing DNA make-up and sequence so that it can correct certain problems, but that does not include the building of new things, besides genes. An example of one such exclusion would be cloning. One of the most heated debates in both political and religious realms, and the issue that Dr. Schmitt of University of Chicago speaks, is creating a new “human” or organism, and although benefits and drawbacks are both heavily weighted, it is not something in which genetic enhancement holds relevance. Genetic enhancement would strictly be gene mutilation in order to promote disease prevention (Schmitt 111). When put into those terms many people feel it to be less threatening and see more benefits than drawbacks. Another important exclusion is what is considered to be “designer” genes. In an effort to prevent discrepancies amongst people of this nation, strict guidelines should be set forth defining what is considered to be a “designer” alteration and what is prevention. If we become a nation of people “dissatisfied by what our youth should naturally look like, than what do we say about ourselves as a whole? Whether we believe our child can benefit from genetic designing is a far less relevant topic as whether or not prevention of inherited diseases in your child is of priority” (Schmitt 112).

An important aspect of gene enhancement is development of efficient DNA delivery systems. A delivery system should have, according to Dr. Mayer, “target specificity, gene expression should be at an appropriate level for a prescribed time, and delivery and expression of the gene should be achieved safely” (Mayer 2). Scientists have used three major approaches to deliver genes: viral vectors, nonviral vectors, and physical gene transfer. Viral vectors are currently the most effective means for efficient gene transfer. Per

Some topics in this essay:
Dr Gelder, Hippocratic Oath, Changing Genes, University Chicago, Dr Mayer, Gelder Stanford, genetic enhancement, gene enhancement, somatic cells, inherited diseases, body cells, dr gelder, aid prevention diseases, “gene” cells, genetic engineering, schmitt 111, application knowledge,