Genetics is no more immune from our perverse ability to turn whatever we discover to greedy, abusive, and exploitative ends than any other technology- (Bruce 5). Marketing and implementing the development of gene therapy promotes the craving of the greedy because they aim to acquire this new power. Greed becomes abuse of resources and power as a means to intervene in an intricate realm, the human genome, that possesses the capability of exploiting faults to justify an impossible societal goal. In an article titled "Engineering the Unborn- Rick Weiss depicts, "once gene therapy becomes heritable. . . what will stop wealthy would-be parents from spiking their sperm or eggs with genes for beneficial traits, such as strong bones or tall stature, thus exacerbating the gulf between the rich and the poor- (p.5)? The insatiable appetite of humans destroys progress towards a competitive advantage by encouraging discrimination. .
In addition, new levels of discrimination arise because society emphasizes the need to conform and gene therapy aids in this endeavor. The arguments of discrimination include determining candidates, increasing the gap between the haves and have-nots, and defining a norm. If two boys both have an expected adult height of 5'3-, one due to a growth hormone disorder and the other simply has short parents, both will suffer from being short in a culture that values tall stature. How do you respond to the similar suffering of both boys when one has a genetic disease and the other has a genetic disadvantage (Parens 4-6)? The difference is this scenario between health and non-health related treatment becomes arguable. Neither life is in danger or face severe health risks, yet both are ridiculed. The capability of gene therapy to effectively help each boy would be advantageous. Still, the question of who needs the treatment only surfaces because of society and choosing only one case discriminates.
