Is Sex Needed in the Future?
Modern genetics engineering has already enabled cloning and organism modification. With continual improvements, the near future can definitely generate perfect children with perfect genes using biotechnology. There are several implications associated with this idea, including social, ethical, economical, evolutionary and technological factors. There has been much ongoing debate on whether genetic engineering is truly beneficial to mankind.
Firstly, the idea creating flawless humans and modifying genes is a great social and ethical issue. Should any individual be given the power to determine another’s traits or behaviours? Diversity would gradually vanish into what becomes the opinionated definition of a perfect human. Strong values such as kinship and family will cease to exist.
The flaws and talents of a human are makes them an individual. Professionals are valued for their skills in the respective fields of expertise. If a human was genetically bred to become extremely sporty or unnaturally talented, issues of immorality and inequality would arise. What would become of the original predecessors who obtained their skills through hard work and training? Would they be replaced by genetically modified humans who surpass the limits of a normal human?
Another issue is the high levels of funding required constructing and operating the biotechnology and hiring specialists. Taxpayer’s money should not be allocated to projects that guarantee no success when more dire areas such as healthcare and global inequality need to be addressed.
Genetically producing offspring may also hinder human evolution. Natural selection allows a species to further adapt to its environment to allowing only the most suitably adapted to survive and thus, breed. The lack of diversity presented from a species of perfect children will not allow natural selection to perform its work. The human race will be unable to surpass the ‘perfect child’, thus capping...