My Sister's Keeper - Pre Reading

Most people have heard of the cloned sheep, Dolly. However, not many know that the same research is being applied to humans themselves, though possibly for different reasons. Dolly the sheep was cloned so that scientists should prove that it was possible to clone a mammal. However, there are different reasons for wanting to clone or genetically engineer a human, and this is why the debate about whether it is right or not is so confusing. For example, some might want to genetically engineer humans to produce so-called “designer babies”, who have certain physical characteristics. This may seem morally wrong to many. There is another reason for cloning or genetically engineering humans that often comes up in debates. This reason is the topic of the book “My Sister’s Keeper”. When one child is diagnosed with a disease such as leukemia and needs transplants from a matching donor, it may be very difficult to find that donor. In that case, the parents may choose to have another child who is genetically engineered - not necessarily for looks, but for other things: the same blood type, for example, as well as other similar chromosomes, though these may also help determine the child’s looks.

Is it right to genetically modify people? Or should we just let nature take it’s course? Obviously, there are both pros and cons to this subject. If there were simply the matter of curing one child, it would be right. If there were simply the matter of harming the second child, the answer would be no. However, when these are combined, it becomes more confusing. Should genetic engineering be wrong all together, or should it only be wrong in certain circumstances. If so, where do we draw the line? Who decides what is right? 

In my opinion, if it is necessary to genetically modify a child (such as in My Sister’s Keeper), then it should be done. If it is simply to create a “designer baby”, then it should not be done. This is not a simple yes or no answer, because this problem cannot be answered by such.