Inheritable Gene Modification Ethical Dilemma

Inheritable genetic modification (IGM, also called germline engineering) consists of changing the genes passed on to future generations. The genetic changes would be made in eggs, sperm or early embryos. Modified genes would appear not only in the person who developed from that gamete or embryo, but also in all succeeding generation. If a lineage of family member immune to a disease due to IGM, that disease would be erased FOREVER in that family. However, this "fantasy" has not been tried in humans. It would be by far the most consequential type of genetic modification as it would open the door to irreversibly altering the human species. There are many ethical issues regarding IGM. Rights don't exist in a vacuum. They are socially negotiated. People don't have the right to sell their children, or to abuse them. Manipulating the genes of an embryo would carry enormous risks for the individual child, for the mother, and for social justice. The parent of such a child cannot make this kind of influential decision for an unborn person. It would represent an unprecedented act of effective control over a child's life trajectory. Changing a future child's genetic makeup falls outside any existing notion of parental rights. Proposals for genetic enhancement and the world view that accompanies are widely seen as a threat to social justice. They are overwhelmingly rejected in opinion polls. Here are some Pros and Cons of Inheritable Genetic Modification: 

Pros:
Inheritable genetic modification can allow couples to "enhance" their children to be healthier, longer lived, more athletic, more intelligent, more attractive, and in general to have more of the qualities that all of us wish for our children. However, Inheritable genetic modification constitutes inherently unsafe human experimentation. It would be impossible to anticipate fully the effects of inserting genes into human cells. Inheritable genetic modification can be used to allow couples to avoid passing on serious genetic diseases such as Tay-Sachs. Inheritable genetic modification can allow a couple, both of whom are homozygous for a defective gene, to have a healthy child that is related to both of them, according to Genetic Modification.

Cons:
This type of eugenic technology would almost certainly increase the social and economic gaps between privileged elites and the great majority of others. This type of genetic manipulation would always be extremely expensive, this would mean only the offspring of the affluent could receive these enhancements. This would almost certainly off-balance society and could lead to the emergence of "genetic castes", this could lead to horrific consequences, according to Center For Genetics and Society.