Eugenics — so what’s wrong with improving the quality of the human species?

Abstract

Given the intense desire of most parents to maximise the opportunities that are available to their children there will be immense pressure to incorporate developments in gene therapy in the family planning process. To this end, scientific advances promise to convert eugenics (which involves using genetic information and technology to produce healthier and more capable children) from a cumbersome trial and error process to an exact science. In the future, it may be possible to make children with the looks of Liz Hurley, the athletic ability of Marion Jones and the intelligence of Stephen W Hawking. This article examines the moral status of eugenics and in so doing considers whether there are sound reasons for prohibiting or restricting the practice.