Jeffrey Klein

In the following viewpoint, Jeffrey Klein, editor-in-chief of Mother Jones magazine, argues that the future of genetic engineering will be shaped, for the worse, by the desire to make a profit from genetic research. Klein argues, for example, that while the desire to improve human health is a major goal of gene therapy, people would also pay for a genetic cure for baldness or wrinkles. He also notes that scientists will probably learn how to genetically manipulate embryos before they develop techniques that will introduce new genes into adults. Klein believes that, given the abuse of eugenics in the past, the use of biotechnology for “human breeding” of enhanced embryos would be unethical and potentially dangerous.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What three uses does the biotechnology company Geron hope to...