Gregory E. Pence

About the author: Gregory E. Pence is the author of Who's Afraid of Human Cloning? and a professor in the department of philosophy and the school of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In germ line gene therapy, reproductive (egg or sperm) cells are intentionally manipulated to alter an individual's traits and the genes passed on to his or her descendants. Although human germ line manipulation has not been achieved, it offers the exciting prospects of preventing genetic disorders and enhancing the mental and physical traits of unborn children. Therefore, when it becomes a feasible, safe procedure, parents should have the choice to use germ line gene therapy to enhance their children's health, physical traits, and mental abilities. It is no different than how people...