Enhancing the species: Genetic engineering technologies and human persistence

Abstract

Many of the existing ethical analyses of genetic engineering technologies (GET) focus on how they can be used to enhance individuals-to improve individual well-being, health and cognition. There is a gap in the current literature about the specific ways enhancement technologies could be used to improve our populations and species, viewed as a whole. In this paper, I explore how GET may be used to enhance the species through improvements in the gene pool. I argue one aspect of the species that may be desirable to enhance is 'persistence' or long-term viability. I then look at some of the ways in which GET could be used to improve human persistence and argue that the use of GET to secure benef..