Embryo Research, Cloning and ‘Designer Babies’
Embryo Research:
• Spare embryos produced from IVF treatments are sometimes used to research human develop-
ment and to develop cures for genetic disorders
• Recently, research has focused on pluripotent stem cells which can change to become any other
king of human cell tissue
• Embryos used in research are destroyed before they reach 14 days old
Therapeutic Cloning:
• The transfer of DNA from a patient into the nucleus of a human egg allows stem cells which are
genetically identical to the patient to be created to help treat disease
• Reproductive cloning is the creation of a genetically identical organism from DNA
• e.g. Dolly the sheep 1996
‘Designer Babies’:
• Using genetic editing to change DNA of a human embryo to enhance or replicate desirable traits
such as physical appearance, intelligence, etc.
• Using Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) doctors can select the sex of an embryo or
screen for conditions such as cystic fibrosis or Down’s Syndrome
• This information can also be used to treat a sick sibling
• In recent years CRIPR, a relatively simple technique for editing DNA, has made the process
much cheaper and easier for a geneticist to change human DNA
When does an embryo become a person?
• Is embryo research equivalent to murder?
• The official position of the catholic church is that it is impossible to be certain when human life
begins, so an embryo might be a person, so it should be treated as a person
Playing God
• At what point should we stop striving to prevent nature taking its course?
• “Consider God’s handiwork; who can straighten what He hath made crooked” Ecclesiastes 7:13
Intrinsic value of human life
• Striving for genetically perfect humans may undermine the intrinsic value of every human, but es-
pecially those who might be defined by medical science as ‘abnormal’
• “There is a plan and a purpose, a value to every life, no matter what its location, age, gender or
disability” Sharon Angle
Impact of genetic hierarchy in society
• Creation of a superior caste of genetically designed humans has led many to predict a dystopian
society in which humanity is grossly divided and non-genetically designed people are second-
class citizens
• This fear is arrestingly portrayed in the 1997 movie Gattaca
Natural Law • For aquinas both embryo research and cloning are likely to be morally wrong as both in-
volve creating human life outside of a loving relationship
• Medical gains of research do not justify action; the law of double effect states you cannot
do a bad action to achieve a good result
• Human life is created imago dei “in the image of God” so must not be tampered with
• It may be argued that ‘designer babies’ threaten the primary precept of living in an or-
dered society
Situation • In principle, Fletcher is not opposed to these procedures: “Control of a child’s sex by
Ethics cloning… might just be justifiable” -Ethical Aspects of Genetic Control
• Fletcher’s agapeic calculations are based on love for actual people (those who would
benefit from treatments) not potential people (embryos)
• However, genetically designing humans is a form of eugenics which could ultimately
Embryo Research:
• Spare embryos produced from IVF treatments are sometimes used to research human develop-
ment and to develop cures for genetic disorders
• Recently, research has focused on pluripotent stem cells which can change to become any other
king of human cell tissue
• Embryos used in research are destroyed before they reach 14 days old
Therapeutic Cloning:
• The transfer of DNA from a patient into the nucleus of a human egg allows stem cells which are
genetically identical to the patient to be created to help treat disease
• Reproductive cloning is the creation of a genetically identical organism from DNA
• e.g. Dolly the sheep 1996
‘Designer Babies’:
• Using genetic editing to change DNA of a human embryo to enhance or replicate desirable traits
such as physical appearance, intelligence, etc.
• Using Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) doctors can select the sex of an embryo or
screen for conditions such as cystic fibrosis or Down’s Syndrome
• This information can also be used to treat a sick sibling
• In recent years CRIPR, a relatively simple technique for editing DNA, has made the process
much cheaper and easier for a geneticist to change human DNA
When does an embryo become a person?
• Is embryo research equivalent to murder?
• The official position of the catholic church is that it is impossible to be certain when human life
begins, so an embryo might be a person, so it should be treated as a person
Playing God
• At what point should we stop striving to prevent nature taking its course?
• “Consider God’s handiwork; who can straighten what He hath made crooked” Ecclesiastes 7:13
Intrinsic value of human life
• Striving for genetically perfect humans may undermine the intrinsic value of every human, but es-
pecially those who might be defined by medical science as ‘abnormal’
• “There is a plan and a purpose, a value to every life, no matter what its location, age, gender or
disability” Sharon Angle
Impact of genetic hierarchy in society
• Creation of a superior caste of genetically designed humans has led many to predict a dystopian
society in which humanity is grossly divided and non-genetically designed people are second-
class citizens
• This fear is arrestingly portrayed in the 1997 movie Gattaca
Natural Law • For aquinas both embryo research and cloning are likely to be morally wrong as both in-
volve creating human life outside of a loving relationship
• Medical gains of research do not justify action; the law of double effect states you cannot
do a bad action to achieve a good result
• Human life is created imago dei “in the image of God” so must not be tampered with
• It may be argued that ‘designer babies’ threaten the primary precept of living in an or-
dered society
Situation • In principle, Fletcher is not opposed to these procedures: “Control of a child’s sex by
Ethics cloning… might just be justifiable” -Ethical Aspects of Genetic Control
• Fletcher’s agapeic calculations are based on love for actual people (those who would
benefit from treatments) not potential people (embryos)
• However, genetically designing humans is a form of eugenics which could ultimately
