WORLD OVERVIEW AND BIOETHICAL CONTROVERSIES 2

World Overview and Bioethical Controversies

I believe that the value of a human person is priceless. Humans alone in the universe
were created in the image of God and given unlimited potential. Their value is, therefore, known
only by God who created them. Since it is only God who knows the value of human beings, no
human being has a right to determine humans that are valuable and those that are not.
I also believe that conception is the beginning of human life. Thus, human beings are not
just those that have developed conscious already. As long as a being is capable of developing
conscious, regardless of their physical state, it is already a human being (Neaves, 2017). No one,
therefore, has a right to treat some humans as worthless just because they have not developed a
conscious.
As a result of these beliefs I am strongly opposed to acts such as stem cell research and
abortion. Stem cell research involves use of embryos for scientific research (Melillo, 2017). By
destroying the embryo, the whole concept is premised on the belief that the embryo is not as
valuable as other human beings. I do not see any difference between such acts and murder
because, in my opinion, an embryo is just as human as everyone else. It is for the same reason
that I also oppose abortion which also involves destruction of unborn human beings.
My belief that human beings are priceless in value also leads me to oppose designer
babies. The whole idea of having such babies is based on the assumption that human beings with
certain features such as high intelligence are more valuable than those without such features
(Melillo, 2017). Moreover, I believe that it is God who creates human beings. The concept of
designer babies allows human beings to start playing God by taking up that role of human
creation.

WORLD OVERVIEW AND BIOETHICAL CONTROVERSIES 3
In conclusion, my strong beliefs in the priceless value of human persons does not allow
me to support abortion or stem cell research because both involve destruction of human life. I am
also opposed to designer babies because the concept promotes the belief that some human beings
are more valuable than others and that humans can also partake in the creation of other humans.

WORLD OVERVIEW AND BIOETHICAL CONTROVERSIES 4

References

Melillo, T. R. (2017). Gene editing and the rise of designer babies. Vand. J. Transnat’l L., 50,
757.
Neaves, W. (2017). The status of the human embryo in various religions. Development, 144(14),
2541-2543.