Science has achieved the most amazing discoveries. It has led to the lengthening of human life along with the ability to become immune to deadly diseases that at points in history wiped out entire cities. We continue to advance our knowledge and technology at an alarming rate and with so much knowledge being discovered it is becoming more likely that at some point we improve ourselves. Creating a human hybrid of a sort, or maybe even just giving a human, characteristics from animals.
The idea of genetic modification comes into play. Is it not to our benefit to improve the human race by any means possible? With such rapid advancement in technology and understanding the biological world around us, one wonders if why couldn’t a human harness the incredible eyesight that and eagle posses or the lungs of a cheetah that Mother Nature has spent so much time perfecting. For centuries nations have looked for ways to give their soldiers the best equipment possible to assure the dominance over another nation. It would greatly benefit the military if they were capable of altering a soldier’s physical attributes to make him a better warrior. An article about genetically engineered animals shared information about a fish that had been genetically engineered to glow in the dark. This leads to a very controversial issue of humans playing god.
Altering humans in positive ways would be of great benefit. Such as if alterations took place according to ones lifestyle or career. A musician could have their ears genetically engineered similar to those of animals that have very enriched hearing, such as bats. It would also lead to a whole new world of sports if an Olympic swimmer was able to modify his feet and hands to those of frogs with webbings between the fingers. Genetically engineering humans would allow one to become a better person more suited for the lifestyle they live which would enrich the rest of the world by the new level of possibility that each genetically engineered human acquired.
There are also not nearly enough hearts for the amount of humans that need a heart transplant to live. However, some animals such a pigs have very similar organs to that of humans. Procedures are already taking place to implant an animal heart into a human and save a life that would have otherwise been lost.
It is however not very wise to take such ideas public because it would cause world panic, especially among religions. Muslims who are not allowed to alter their human body would no longer feel left out of tattoos and piercings but also of having a better sense of smell or the eyesight of an eagle. Such technologies would give rise to leaders interested in only power. Specializing military personnel with modifications that give an enormous advantage could lead to chaos throughout the world and even a new form of racism as there would be those not wealthy enough to receive such operations. Little girls would no longer have to be pressure into being skinny but also into acquiring characteristics, possibly from animals, that were pushed by the media. It would be a difficult sight seeing a girl that may have a cats eyes but with such a strong influence from the media it is not that far out there and the only thing stopping a trend such as that is the ability to do it and some celebrity getting the procedure.
Humans have grown into what we are today, we have expanded on the characteristics that are used and lost the ones that we’ve had no need for. Medicine has been what has allowed us to dodge the many problems that plague us but a point will come when instead of viewing medicine as a way to prevent a disease it will be viewed as a way of advancement amount each other. There would no longer be a meaning behind the phrase “All men are created equal.”
References
ScumDoctor.com
Heart Transplants from Animals to Humans, ScumDoctor.com
Food and Drug Administration (2010)
Genetically Engineered Animals, FDA
Paul Arnold (2009)
Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering in Humans, Brighthub.com