Gentic Catastrophe

A detailed Summary of Gentic Catastrophe

"While the 20th century was shaped largely by spectacular breakthroughs in the field of physics and chemistry, the 21st century will belong to the biological sciences. Scientists around the world are quickly deciphering the genetic code of life, unlocking the mystery of biological evolution on Earth. As a result of the new breakthrough in biology and biotechnology, our way of life is likely to be more fundamentally transformed in the next several decades than in the previous thousand years. "By the year 2025, we and our children may be living in a world utterly different from anything human beings have ever experienced in the past" (Rifkin 30).

Some ideas in genetic science are fast growing dilemmas that society is going to have to deal with in time. Producing a superior race by altering people's genetic code or cloning, is thought to be unethical. In the future what would stop families that can afford to program "superior" genetic traits into their fetuses at conception that will ensure their offspring an even greater biological advantage and thus a social and economic advantage as well. This would affect the people without an altered genetic code because as stated in Darwin's theory that "only the strong

survive, people without altered genes would become less efficient and would not survive as well in society. Molecular biologist Lee Silver of Princeton University writes about that in a not too distant future, society will be made up of two distinct biological classes, which he refers to as the "Gene Rich" and the "Naturals." The Gene Rich, who will account for 10% of the population, have been enhanced with synthetic genes and will become the rulers of society. They would include Gene Rich businesspeople, musicians, artists, intellectuals, and athletes each enhanced with specific synthetic genes to allow them to succeed in their respective fields in ways not even conceivable among those born naturally.

"Race religion, language, and nationality are all well-worn methods of categorization and victimization. Now, with the emergence of the genetic revolution, society entertains the prospect of a new and more serious form of segregation, the one based on genotype" (Rifkin 30). How will the "Naturals" cope with the "Gene Rich" people? More likely than not discrimination will ensue. Evidence that society discriminates against that which is not within the norm is obvious through out history. So what would make genetically produced super human beings acceptable in the eyes of the normal world?

As long as technology exists so will advancements. Some of these revolutionary ideas are good. For example genetically enhancing food sources so that world hunger would become controlled is a

Some common words found in the essay are:
Gene Rich, Genetic Catastrophe, University Texas, Pillar Yamamoto, Princeton University, gene rich, genetic code, genetic engineering, biological weapons, biological weapons technology, people altered, rifkin 30, weapons technology, revolutionary ideas, killing capability, synthetic genes,

Approximate Word count = 1002
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science