Catholics and Protestants

• There is some support for genetically modified crops, given their potential in relation to global hunger, but there is also concern about possibly reducing biodiversity
• There is some concern about genetic modification of animals among Catholics, as this could be seen as contrary to natural moral law
• For Catholics and Protestants, there is the practical issue of xenotransplantation (e.g. using the hearts of transgenic pigs) of the transmission of animal diseases to humans
• Somatic-cell therapy is generally encouraged as a responsible use of God-given skills, providing undue risks are not taken and the benefits justify the costs
• There is much more concern about germline therapy, as if a mistake were made, the bad result would be passed down the generations. The bad effects are not necessarily foreseeable
• Enhancement therapy, designed to create a superior human species (transhumans), is rejected by Catholics and many Protestants for many reasons:

  • would mean that humans would no longer be in God's image
  • would lead to children being viewed as a commodity rather than as a gift
  • would result in a two-tier society and discrimination based on wealth (i.e. those who could afford the therapy vs those who could not)
• Somatic-cell therapy= a treatment intended to correct genetic disorders (therapeutic genetic engineering). It entails genetic modification of human cells that are not sex-cells and so will affect only the individual being treated
• Germline therapy= intended to correct genetic disorders by genetically modifying the sex cells. This affects not only the person being treated but also his/her descendants
• Enhancement therapy= genetic modification with a social not medical purpose. It is aimed at improving the human race in terms of intelligence, physical strength, appearance, etc.