Human genetic enhancement

Human Genetic Enhancement

Human genetic enhancement (pronunciation: /ˈhjuːmən dʒɪˈnɛtɪk ɛnˈhænsmənt/) is the application of genetic engineering techniques to modify human characteristics, abilities, or attributes. The concept is rooted in the field of genetics, which studies the genes and their impact on the traits of an organism.

Etymology

The term "genetic enhancement" is derived from the English words "genetic", referring to genes, and "enhancement", meaning improvement or augmentation. The term "human genetic enhancement" specifically refers to the application of these techniques to human beings.

Related Terms

• Genetic Engineering: The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology.
• Gene Therapy: A technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease.
• Genome Editing: A type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted, modified or replaced in the genome of a living organism.
• CRISPR: A family of DNA sequences found in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea. These sequences are derived from DNA fragments of bacteriophages that had previously infected the prokaryote.

Overview

Human genetic enhancement involves the use of techniques such as gene therapy and genome editing to modify human characteristics. This can include changes to physical attributes, cognitive abilities, lifespan, and resistance to disease. The most commonly discussed method of human genetic enhancement is CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary genome editing tool that allows for precise, directed changes to genomic DNA.

Ethical Considerations

The prospect of human genetic enhancement raises numerous ethical issues, including questions about the potential for eugenics, the nature of human identity and the definition of disease. These issues are often discussed in the context of bioethics, a field of study concerned with the ethical and philosophical implications of certain biological and medical procedures, technologies, and treatments.

See Also

• Genetic Modification
• Genetic Screening
• Genetic Counseling
• Genomics
• Biotechnology

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Human genetic enhancement
• Wikipedia's article - Human genetic enhancement

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