6.+Cosmetic+Gene+Therapy

Medical Gene Therapy Home


 * What is cosmetic gene therapy?**
 * Similar in a sense to plastic therapy
 * Uses germline genetic engineering
 * Would allow parents to change characteristics of their children (and thus following generations as well)
 * Would be separate from medical gene therapy


 * What characteristics can be altered?**
 * Height - Growth Hormone/Estrogen
 * Weight - Altering Leptin
 * Memory/Learning - Estrogen/Intracranial Gene Delivery
 * Muscle Strength/Buildup - Growth Hormones
 * Hair Color/Growth


 * What would gene therapy change?**
 * Appearance
 * Mental Capacity
 * Intelligence
 * Physical ability
 * Athletic potential


 * Reasons against cosmetic gene therapy**
 * Greater class differential (those who can afford vs. those who cannot)
 * Preferential coupling between the rich and attractive (pure blood)
 * Less sense of purpose and belonging for child
 * "Bad" parents predetermining child's future
 * More of a materialistic society - children as products
 * Increased discrimination
 * Constantly new technology, "outdated" by adulthood


 * Reasons for cosmetic gene therapy**
 * Technological advance of the human race
 * Uses the further knowledge and ability of man
 * Can be related to putting the first man on the moon (and atomic bomb example)
 * high risk, high financial investment, could be deemed unnecessary
 * Satisfies the human need for exploration and curiosity
 * "Human evolution will be self driven" - Lee Silver
 * Would be for the benefit and advancement of man


 * Ethically Permissible?**
 * Christopher Columbus example
 * Conclusion for the pro cosmetic gene therapy argument:
 * It is __ethically permissible__ for humans to follow their impulse for advancement to improve as a race and the understanding of the world.


 * Think (Discussion)**
 * If you could "create" the perfect child based on the physical and mental qualities available to be altered, which would you most likely consider actually altering on your future child? (choose one and elaborate)
 * What are some general qualities that all parents would hope for their children to have?
 * Both directly inherited physical traits as well as character traits (make quick a list)
 * What are more important to you? Physical characteristics or character traits?
 * (i.e. would you rather have a genetically modified genius child that treats everyone else as inferiors or a mildly smart child by nature who is kind at heart and treats people fairly?)
 * Where do you find that your values lie?

END HERE (below are links (that I hope work) to pictures that I'd like to be included in my section of the powerpoint, let me know if you have trouble adding them)

Pictures to add:

Possibly somewhere else in the slideshow or on one of my slides: ( I feel as though it may fit into the theme well) Brave New World (book cover) > [|brave.jpg] (maybe under a "for" cosmetic gene therapy slide) Attractive little girl > [|beautiful-cute-baby-girl.jpg] " " " Attractive baby boy > [|lil-lion-baby-costume.jpg] under an against cosmetic gene therapy slide Michael Phelps > [|michael_phelps.jpg] under the "what characteristics can be altered" slide > [|3303100f2.jpg]

I know that i have quite a few pictures, but I think the pictures will help keep the slideshow going and keep people interested. If there is too much text and not enough room for the picture as well on some of the slides, it'd be fine to place the picture on the slide following the informational slide on the subject too. Let me know if you need help with this. Just email me or something. Also if any of my "slides" that I have laid out have too much text, feel free to overflow onto two slides instead of cramming all of the text into one slide. :D