Genetic manipulation that raises questions

News Mondays - Diego Tabaoda

Last week, Chinese researchers succeeded in breeding mice of the same sex using genetic manipulation. Remarkably, the mice were able to survive and reproduce in their turn: a first in the world of biogenetics. The development of this new method - the technical details of which we'll spare you - could open up new perspectives, particularly in cloning and mammalian reproduction. Could they even be applied to human beings? Unlikely in the near future, according to some scientists consulted by the general media, although they don't rule it out completely.

Beyond the scientific value of the experiment, it was above all the reactions it sparked that caught the attention of the Regard Libre. In fact, the comments on social media were particularly scathing, and the debates were heated—there was certainly no holding back. Critics have been very harsh, accusing the study’s authors of «playing God» or going against «nature.» The implication: science reaches its limits when human experimentation attempts to surpass nature. A dangerous practice, in short.

Genetic manipulation and homosexual reproduction—which do not occur in nature—open the door to all sorts of abuses. But is this scientific experiment truly «an expression of science without a conscience»? It seems obvious that anything even remotely related to genetic engineering raises numerous ethical questions. But is this kind of reaction always appropriate?

It’s worth recalling that in the Middle Ages, the first autopsies were performed in secret, because the prevailing moral code—Catholic in this case—prohibited the opening of bodies. Medical progress then stagnated in Europe. It was by defying this moral prohibition that medicine made breathtaking advances in the field, ultimately saving so many lives. Isn’t it the same today?

Seeking at all costs to prevent scientific research would amount to giving in to the siren call of obscurantism. Morality should not be a reason to impose bans or create taboos surrounding these issues of genetic modification. However, this field of research must not be the exclusive domain of a select group of scientists. Philosophers, sociologists, and moralists have both the legitimacy and the responsibility to participate in the debate, as these are clearly matters of societal concern.

Refraining from research or investigations in fields deemed socially «immoral» is the surest way to miss out on progress that, although widely frowned upon today, could—like medicine—save lives in the future.

Write to the author: diego.taboada@leregardlibre.com