JEWISH BIOETHICS AND MEDICAL GENETICS

Man has been aware of the science of genetics, i.e., how living things transport heritable traits to their offspring, since biblical times. However, knowledge regarding genetic disorders has increased greatly i n recent years. Advances have been made with respect to both the metho dology of genetic diagnosis and the treatment of genetic diseases. Bot h Jewish and secular ethicists, in general, approve of new genetic dia gnostic techniques and genetic therapy if the risk/benefit ratio is fa vorable for humankind. However, all medical ethicists are still strugg ling with the ethical question: ''To what extent should we tamper with the process of natural selection?''