The idea of progress : to what extent can we fear medical progress ?

I’m going to talk about the notion idea of progress. This notion can be defined as an improvement, a development or a change – a technical, scientific or social advance which contributes to making the world a better place. In relation with the notion, I will use the theme of eugenism. In my brief presentation on the development of cities, I will answer the following question : to what extent can we fear medical progress? I will use 2 parts to illustrate this notion. First I will concentrate on designer babies development, then I will analyse the limits of genetics.

My first document is composed of two articles of Globe Online and USA Today. Both articles illustrate the notion of progress in so far as they present us with a scientific breakthrough: indeed, PGD is an unsurpassed technique, which can cure serious diseases and extend the life of human beings more weak. It is also considered to be progress as it allows parents to choose the physical characteristics of their future baby and produce babies that are supposed to conform to the wishes of their parents. However, even if designer babies are a scientific achievement, they also undermine the diversity and open the door to the idea that some people who might be underperforming are to be rejected and regarded as outcasts. Therefore, it is necessary to think and be aware of the risks so that Governments and scientists can draw a clear line between what is ethically acceptable or not.

My second document is a report of 'CBS News' during which a journalist presents a fertilization Institute that can choose the color of the eyes, hair and more. They use a technique called PGCD, initially it was used to delete diseases. Then we are told that from here next year, the sex can be determined at 100% and the colour of the eyes to 80%. Dr. Steinberg is one of the pioneers of fertilization in vitro and we explained that we must accept this new perspective and not to override it. According a study in the United States, most of those interviewed are for the PGCD when used to remove diseases. Only its use for esthetic purposes still frightens a part of the population that believes this dehumanizing practice. My last document is a report on the village of Korora, a village in India. It is said that the India becomes a society dominated by men since the number of girl has never been as low. A boy is more financially interesting than a girl because they received a dowry from the family of his wife at the wedding. This is how families use ultrasound to find out the sex and find out if they fail to get rid of the baby. The number of abortions increasing, shall now to have an abortion or to know the sex of her baby before birth. This practice is dangerous and upsets the demographics of the country since it is said that by 2030, there will be 20% of man more than to woman.

Eugenics could allow healing and medical advancement in the research of diseases but also seriously harm the diversity of individuals, especially when comes in the choice of the genes at the origin of the expression of physical characters. It is for this reason that a part of the population is afraid, although some countries such as the France coach these advances, there are still many countries that do not have constraints in this regard.

...