Human Genetics

Biography

Biography: Seyed Mohammad Azin

Abstract

The accelerating progress of Genetics and its wondrous practical benefits has surprised ethical and legal experts. This time, physical sciences surpass ethical and legal considerations and pioneers of genetic evolution all over the world; feel less concern about moral judgments. In this lecture, I suggest a criterion for monitoring genetic prenatal interventions which evaluates morality and legitimacy of what human does contrary to natural phenomenon of gestation. I call it “Random Human Nature Principle”. The principle is supported by at least three ethical milestones. First basis is prohibition of decision making instead of fetus. Fetus, though at least in its first stages of development, lacks enough capacity to be counted as human, has enough respect to have right of life. This involves the right to be born and there is no doubt that we shall let the near future baby decide himself or herself about the physical and mental characteristics and other than the sole exception named below, there is no emergency condition for others’ intervention. So, there is no authority for others to impose their wish to future baby by means of “discretion justifications”. Second basis is forbiddance of human instrumentalism. To promote human features like intelligence or height reduces human position to a product which we intend to create as well as possible. The third milestone is considering human variety as gift rather than defect. Building a society consisting of people with identical physical and mental properties will lead to social stagnation and deprives humankind of opportunities which are provided due to human natural diversity. This differentiation is required to develop a civilization and should not be noticed as a privilege-defect confrontation. Finally, there is a key concept in determining borders of this principle’ application: “Genetic disease or disorder”, this shall be the sole exception regarding accurate calculation of its boundaries.